Description

Background:
The following scale was developed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies (Radloff, 1977). This is a short, self-reporting scale intended for the general population. A Spanish version of the scale is also available.

Lenore S. Radloff

Copyright:
Center for Epidemiologic Studies, National Institute of Mental Health; Publisher: West Publishing Company

References:
Hann, D., Winter, K., & Jacobsen, P. (1999). Measurement of depressive symptoms in cancer patients: Evaluation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 46, 437-443.
Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385-401.
Radloff, L.S. (1991). The Use of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in Adolescents and Young Adults. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 20(2), 149-166.

Reliability:
Original study: Internal consistency: Coefficient alpha (Spearman-Brown, split-halves); General population = 0.85; Patient sample = 0.90 (Radloff, 1977); See Radloff, 1977 for test-retest correlations. Later study (Cancer patients): Internal consistency: Cronbach alpha; Healthy comparison group = 0.87; Patient sample = 0.89; Test-retest reliability: Healthy comparison group = 0.51 (p < 0.001); Patient sample = 0.57 (p < 0.001) (Hann et al., 1999). For reliability data for a sample of adolescents and young adults, see Radloff, 1991.