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Measuring melancholy: A critique of the Beck Depression Inventory and its use in mental health nursing
Author(s) -
Hagen Brad
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2007.00453.x
Subject(s) - beck depression inventory , mental health , depression (economics) , electroconvulsive therapy , mental health nursing , psychiatry , psychology , nursing practice , clinical practice , nursing , medicine , anxiety , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is one of the most commonly used depression measurement instruments. Mental health nurses often utilize the BDI to assess the level of depression in clients, and to monitor the effectiveness of treatments such as antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy. Despite the widespread use of the BDI in both clinical practice and research, there is surprisingly little nursing literature critically examining the BDI or its use by mental health nurses. This paper reviews the origins, purpose, and format of the BDI, discusses some of the strengths and limitations of the BDI, and concludes with some implications for mental health nursing.