Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R)
A 20-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure symptoms of depression in the general population over the past week.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R) was developed by Eaton WW, Muntaner C, Smith C, Tien A, Ybarra M (2004). It is designed to measure Depression. The scale is intended for use with General population / Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items organized into 9 factors/subscales: Sadness (Dysphoria), Loss of Interest (Anhedonia), Appetite, Sleep, Thinking / concentration, Guilt (Worthlessness), Tired (fatigue), Movement (Agitation), Suicidal ideation.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Sadness (Dysphoria) | 2,4,6 | 3 |
| Loss of Interest (Anhedonia) | 8,10 | 2 |
| Appetite | 1,18 | 2 |
| Sleep | 5,11,19 | 3 |
| Thinking / concentration | 3,20 | 2 |
| Guilt (Worthlessness) | 9,17 | 2 |
| Tired (fatigue) | 7,16 | 2 |
| Movement (Agitation) | 12,13 | 2 |
| Suicidal ideation | 14,15 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all / Less than 1 day, 1 = 1 – 2 days, 2 = 3 – 4 days, 3 = 5 – 7 days, 4 = Nearly every day for 2 weeks.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 80. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subthreshold depressive symptoms: 0 – 15
- Clinically significant depressive symptoms: 16 – 80
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good internal consistency.
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.