Depression
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)
Measurement of depressive symptoms; clinical interpretation required
Reference information · Questionnaire
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Questionnaire
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | Original 20-item English CES-D; APA-hosted NIMH form |
| Population | Adults; interpret using applicable population evidence |
| Respondent | Self-report |
| Recall period | Past week |
| Purpose | Measurement of depressive symptoms; clinical interpretation required |
Assessment tool
A total does not establish individual item responses.
Below is a list of the ways you might have felt or behaved. Please tell me how often you have felt this way during the past week.
CES-D, NIMH; Radloff (1977). Public-domain measure.
Responses stay in this page’s memory. Reset or leave the page to clear them. No patient identifiers are collected.
Interpretation & limitations
- Higher scores indicate more reported depressive symptomatology over the past week.
- This exact source form does not provide severity bands. No universal cutoff or diagnosis is inferred.
- All 20 responses are required by this implementation; omitted answers are not treated as zero.
- A score does not establish depressive disorder, select treatment or establish safety.
- Use the clinical interview, functioning and applicable population evidence.
References · 2
- NIMH original form and scoring instructions hosted by APA
- APA assessment guidance and public-domain statement · NIMH public-domain measure; APA assessment guidance explicitly states no permission is required for use.