Mean Beck Depression Inventory–II Scores by Severity of Major Depressive Episode

The Beck Depression Inventory-II total scores of 35 (14%) outpatients who were diagnosed with a mild DSM-IV Major Depressive Episode (MDE), 144 (55%) outpatients with a moderate MDE, and 81 (31%) outpatients with a severe MDE were compared. The mean BDI-II total scores were, respectively, 18 (SD = 8, 99% CI 12-23), 27 (SD = 10, 99% CI 24-29), and 34 (SD = 10, 99% CI 30-37) (F2.257 = 33.25, p<.001). The mean BDI-II total score of the outpatients with a severe specifier was significantly higher than the mean BDI-II total score of the outpatients with a moderate specifier which was, in turn, significantly higher than the mean BDI-II total score of the outpatients with a mild specifier.