Abstract
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is the most frequently used research measure for selecting samples of depressed college students, and a cutoff score of 10 is most often used. Although previous studies have examined the diagnostic characteristics of subjects selected in this manner, these studies have been limited to examination of depressive diagnostic features and have focused on samples selected on the basis of a less commonly used cutoff score of 16. This study extends previous research by assessing a broad range of diagnostic characteristics of depressed college students identified using single (1-point) and dual (2-point) administrations of the BDI. Sixty-three college students meeting the BDI criterion for at least mild depression participated in structured interviews based on DSM-III. Results showed a high degree of diagnostic heterogeneity for both methods, although the 2-point criterion increased homogeneity marginally. The BDI screenings occasionally resulted in the selection of individuals with substance abuse disorders, precluding the diagnosis of an affective disorder. A second group of selected individuals contained students with past histories of psychiatric disorders, but no clinical symptoms at present. It is suggested that researchers carefully control for heterogeneity of student samples by following 2-point screening sessions with a brief diagnostic interview.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1980).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Beck, A. T. (1967).Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York: Harper & Row.
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depressionArchives of General Psychiatry, 4 561–671.
Bumberry, W., Oliver, J. M., & McClure, J. N. (1978). Validation of the Beck Depression Inventory in a university population using a psychiatric estimate as criterion.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46 150–155.
Carroll, B. J., Fielding, J. M., & Blashki, T. G. (1973). Depression rating scales: A critical review.Archives of General Psychiatry, 28 361–366.
Costello, C. G. (1978). A critical review of Seligman's laboratory experiments on learned helplessness in humans.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87 21–31.
Depue, R. A., & Monroe, S. M. (1978). Learned helplessness in the perspective of the depressive disorders: Conceptual and definitional issues.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 87 3–20.
Endicott, J., & Spitzer, R. L. (1978). A diagnostic interview.Archives of General Psychiatry, 35 837–844.
Garfield, S. L. (1978). Research problems in clinical diagnosis.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46 596–607.
Haier, R. J., Rieder, R. O., Khouri, P. J., & Buchsbaum, M. S. (1979). Extreme MMPI scores and the Research Diagnostic Criteria: Screening college men for psychopathology.Archives of General Psychiatry, 30 528–534.
Hammen, C. (1980). Depression in college students: Beyond the Beck Depression Inventory.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48 126–128.
Hatzenbuehler, L. C., Parpal, M., & Matthews, L. (1983). Classifying college students as depressed or nondepressed using the Beck Depression Inventory: An empirical analysis.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51 360–366.
Hesselbrock, V., Stabenau, J., Hesselbrock, M., Mirkin, P., & Meyer, R. (1982). A comparison of two interview schedules, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime and the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule.Archives of General Psychiatry, 39 674–677.
Lewinsohn, P. M., & Teri, L. (1982). Selection of depressed and nondepressed subjects on the basis of self-report data.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50 590–591.
Robins, L. N., Helzer, J. E., Croughan, J., & Ratcliff, K. S. (1981). National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule.Archives of General Psychiatry, 38 381–389.
Rounsaville, B. J., Weissman, M. M., Rosenberger, P. H., Wilber, C. H., & Kleber, H. D. (1977). Detecting depressive disorders in drug abusers.Journal of Affective Disorders, 1 255–267.
Sacco, W. P. (1981). Invalid use of the Beck Depression Inventory to identify depressed college-student subjects: A methodological comment.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 5 143–147.
Stangler, R. S., & Printz, A. M. (1980). DSM-III psychiatric diagnosis in a university population.American Journal of Psychiatry, 137 937–940.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was conducted as part of the first author's M.S. thesis. We express our appreciation to the following without whose help this study could not have been conducted: Madeline Barnes, Allan F. Chino, Louis Damis, Michael Kippes, Christine Childers Michael, and Sue Slade.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Deardorff, W.W., Funabiki, D. A diagnostic caution in screening for depressed college students. Cogn Ther Res 9, 277–284 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183847
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01183847