PSYCHOLOGY

Children's Depression Inventory -2

Table of Contents

Introduction2

Psychometric qualities of Children's Depression Inventory -22

Reliability2

Validity3

Standardization3

Uses of the test3

A critique of the test4

Practical example of test usage5

Conclusion5

References6

Children's Depression Inventory -2

Introduction

Depression in children involves a series of symptoms such as lack of interest in everyday activities, low self-esteem and self-confidence, isolation, aloof and introvert attitude, insomnia or sleep deprivation and self-defeating impulses. Children's Depression Inventory -2 is a test that measures the symptoms of depression in children between the age of 7 and 17 years. It is a very comprehensive multi rater assessment test (Masip, 2010). The test generates reports from the child's parents, teachers and children/adolescent himself. Children's Depression Inventory -2 is an improved version of the original Children's Depression Inventory. The scales used in the latest test are more reliable and valid. It focuses on the items that get to the root of depression in children and contains norms that represent the US population statistics.

Psychometric qualities of Children's Depression Inventory -2

Reliability

The Children's Depression Inventory-2 is a widely used test for diagnosing depression in children. It is a reliable test and helps the social workers, mental health professionals and psychologists to develop targeted treatments for the child under examination. For multiple variable assessments, to make the test more reliable, it has two main forms: a 27 items form and a smaller 10 items form that serves as a screener. It also comes in a parent version and a teacher version. These forms are available in hard copy format as well as in the form of software. However, the reliability of this test is limited to serve as a screening test and not a diagnostic test (Masip, 2010).

Validity

Validity of Children's Depression Inventory-2 refers to the test's ability to help the examiner with making useful meaningful and appropriate inferences on the basis of the test. The validity of the test differs between depressed and non-depressed children as well as clinical and non clinical examinations. The Children Depression Scale used in the Children Depression Inventory-2 test is quite valid in certain situations (Fristad, 1997). The validity of the Children Depression Inventory-2 depends on the variables it uses to assess the symptoms of depression. There are some variables that have a great impact on the validity of the Children Depression Inventory-2. These variables include depressive affect, personal adjustment and oppositional behavior.

Standardization

The standard for Children Depression Inventory-2 requires a structured interview to be conducted in a clinical setting for the diagnosis of depression. There is a need for caution when it comes to using the Children Depression Inventory-2 test, as when used alone the administration. The items on the CDI-2 form pertain to feelings of behavior in the last two weeks. Parent and teacher forms are use to get a second person, more reliable opinion on the mood of the child (Masip, 2010).

Uses of the test

Until lately, depression has always been assumed to be a disorder that can affect only the elderly. The assumption behind this was that a child's nervous system is not mature enough to understand the ...