Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children – CES-DC
A 20-item self-report screening inventory designed to measure depressive symptomatology in children and adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children – CES-DC was developed by Weissman, Orvaschel, & Padian (1980). It is designed to measure Depression. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents aged 6-17 years.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Depressed Affect, Positive Affect, Somatic Activity, Interpersonal Functioning.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Depressed Affect | 3,6,9,10,14,17,18 | 7 |
| Positive Affect | 4,8,12,16 | 4 |
| Somatic Activity | 1,2,5,7,11,13,20 | 7 |
| Interpersonal Functioning | 15,19 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all, 1 = A little, 2 = Some, 3 = A lot.
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Normal / No significant depressive symptomatology: 0 – 14
- Indicative of depressive symptomatology: 15 – 60
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from .71 to .91.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.