Which instrument is a self-report depression screener designed for children?

• A. Beck Depression Inventory
• B. Beck Anxiety Inventory
• C. Children's Depression Inventory
• D. SCL-90-R

Answer: (C)

Understanding how depression is measured in children starts with choosing a tool that is designed for their age and way of thinking. The Children’s Depression Inventory is built specifically for kids and adolescents, with items written in language that young people can understand and answer about their own feelings and behaviors. Because it is a self-report measure, the child completes it themselves, which makes it a straightforward screening option to flag potential depressive symptoms for further evaluation.

The other instruments aren’t aimed at pediatric depression in the same way. The Beck Depression Inventory was developed for adults (and older teens in some uses) and isn’t tailored to younger children. The Beck Anxiety Inventory focuses on anxiety rather than depression. The SCL-90-R is a broad symptom checklist used in adults and some older adolescents, not a child-specific depression screener.