Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children – DSRS
A self-report scale designed to assess the severity of depressive symptomatology in children and adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children – DSRS was developed by Birleson P., Hudson I., Grey-Buchanan D., Wolff S. (1987). It is designed to measure Depression in children. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents (ages 7-12).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 18 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never, 1 = Sometimes, 2 = Most of the time.
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 36. Interpretation guidelines:
- Normal / Minimal Depressive Symptoms: 0 – 12
- Significant Depressive Symptoms (Indicative of Depression): 13 – 36
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.86.
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.