Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale – BADS
Measures changes in activation, avoidance, and impairment associated with depression over the course of behavioral activation therapy.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale – BADS was developed by Kanter, J. W., Mulick, P. S., Busch, A. M., Berlin, K. S., & Martell, C. R. (2007). It is designed to measure Behavioral activation and avoidance in depression. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Activation, Avoidance/Rumination, Work/School Impairment, Social Impairment.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | 3,4,5,7,11,12,23 | 7 |
| Avoidance/Rumination | 8,9,10,13,14,15,24 | 7 |
| Work/School Impairment | 1,2,6,21,22 | 5 |
| Social Impairment | 16,17,18,19,20,25 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all, 1 = 1, 2 = A little, 3 = 3, 4 = A lot, 5 = 5, 6 = Completely.
The scale includes 18 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good internal consistency and construct validity.
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.