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A comprehensive analysis of the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a sample of outpatients with adjustment disorder and depressive episode

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2017

E. McElroy ,
P. Casey ,
G. Adamson ,
P. Filippopoulos  and
M. Shevlin Open the ORCID record for M. Shevlin [Opens in a new window]
E. McElroy*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Ulster University, Derry-Londonerry, Northern Ireland
P. Casey
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
G. Adamson
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Ulster University, Derry-Londonerry, Northern Ireland
P. Filippopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London, UK
M. Shevlin
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Ulster University, Derry-Londonerry, Northern Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: E. McElroy, School of Psychology, Ulster University, Northern Ireland. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Objectives

Despite being commonly used in research and clinical practice, the evidence regarding the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) remains equivocal and this has implications on how the scale scores should be aggregated. Researchers continue to debate whether the BDI-II is best viewed as a unidimensional scale, or whether specific subscales have utility. The present study sought to test a comprehensive range of competing factor analytic models of the BDI-II, including traditional non-hierarchical multidimensional models and confirmatory bifactor models.

Method

Participants (n=370) were clinical outpatients diagnosed with either depressive episode or adjustment disorder. Confirmatory factor analysis and confirmatory bifactor modelling were used to test 15 competing models. The unidimensionality of the best fitting model was assessed using three strength indices (explained common variance, percentage of uncontaminated correlations and ω hierarchical).

Results

Overall, bifactor solutions provided superior fit than both unidimensional and non-hierarchical multidimensional models. The best fitting model consisted of a general depression factor and three specific factors: cognitive, somatic and affective. High factor loadings and strength indices for the general depression factor supported the view that the BDI-II measures a single latent construct.

Conclusions

The BDI-II should primarily be viewed as a unidimensional scale, and should be scored as such. Although it is not recommended that scores on individual subscales are used in isolation, they may prove useful in clinical assessment and/or treatment planning if used in conjunction with total scores.

Keywords

Adjustment disorderBeck Depression Inventory-IIconfirmatory bifactor analysisdepressive episodeexplained common varianceomega hierarchical
Type
Original Research
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 35 , Issue 1 , March 2018 , pp. 53 - 61
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2017 

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