Which instrument is the most commonly used measure of depression and provides results on the severity of depression?

• A. Beck Depression Inventory
• B. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
• C. Geriatric Depression Scale
• D. Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale

Answer: (A)

Assessing depression uses tools that produce a numeric severity score, and the Beck Depression Inventory is the most widely used for this purpose. It’s a self-report questionnaire that covers cognitive, emotional, and somatic symptoms of depression. Each item is scored, and the total score maps onto severity levels (minimal to severe). This combination of broad applicability, quick administration, and a clear severity index makes it the standard in many clinical and research settings. Other scales exist—such as clinician-rated inventories or those designed for specific populations—but they don’t match the Beck’s broad use and its straightforward severity scoring.