TOOL FOR PROFESSIONALS BRIGHT FUTURES INSTRUCTIONS F O R U S E

Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)

The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) is a

20-item self-report depression inventory with possible scores ranging from 0 to 60. Each response to an item is scored as follows:

0 = "Not At All" 1 = "A Little" 2 = "Some" 3 = "A Lot"

Tool for Families: Symptoms of Depression in Adolescents, p. 126. Tool for Families: Common Signs of Depression in Children and Adolescents, p. 147.

However, items 4, 8, 12, and 16 are phrased positively, and thus are scored in the opposite order:

3 = "Not At All" 2 = "A Little" 1 = "Some" 0 = "A Lot"

Higher CES-DC scores indicate increasing levels of depression. Weissman et al. (1980), the developers of the CES-DC, have used the cutoff score of 15 as being suggestive of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. That is, scores over 15 can be indicative of significant levels of depressive

Weissman MM, Orvaschel H, Padian N. 1980. Children's symptom and social functioning self- report scales: Comparison of mothers' and children's reports. Journal of Nervous Mental Disorders 168(12):736-740. Faulstich ME, Carey MP, Ruggiero L, et al. 1986. Assessment of depression in childhood and adolescence: An evaluation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC American Journal of Psychiatry 143(8):1024-1027.

symptoms. Remember that screening for depression can be complex and is only an initial step. Further evaluation is required for children and adolescents identified through a screening process. Further evaluation is also warranted for children or adolescents who exhibit depressive symptoms but who do not screen positive.

Below is a list of the ways you might have felt or acted. Please check how much you have felt this way during the past week.

1. I was bothered by things that usually don't bother me. 2. I did not feel like eating, I wasn't very hungry. 3. I wasn't able to feel happy, even when my family or friends tried to help me feel better. 4. I felt like I was just as good as other kids. 5. I felt like I couldn't pay attention to what I was doing.

6. I felt down and unhappy. 7. I felt like I was too tired to do things. 8. I felt like something good was going to happen. 9. I felt like things I did before didn't work out right.

11. I didn't sleep as well as I usually sleep. 12. I was happy. 13. | was more quiet than usual. 14. I felt lonely, like I didn't have any friends. 15. I felt like kids I know were not friendly or that they didn't want to be with me.

16. I had a good time. 17. I felt like crying.

19. I felt people didn't like me. 20. It was hard to get started doing things.