The Children’s Depression Inventory

Over 2.7 million children are diagnosed with childhood depression in the US. For many parents who talk to their child's pediatrician, psychiatrist, or mental health professional about depression, the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) may be suggested. The Children’s Depression Inventory is a self-report measure of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Understanding this tool for early identification and how it can be used can help you support your child if they are struggling with the affective disorder known as depression.

What age group is the CDI for?

When children and adolescents meet with a provider to be screened, they may be asked to answer several questions on a sliding scale. For example, they'll likely be asked to rate their depressive symptoms on the scale of how it affects them, whether a little, a lot, or somewhat. The questions on the Children’s Depression Inventory are worded in child-friendly terms, depending on the child's age. Each question is separate from the rest and describes information in a way that many children can understand. 

The current second edition of the Children's Depression Inventory contains new refinements (including a new focus on core aspects of depression in children, as well as new U.S.norms) as well as revised scales that make it an accurate tool with scoring that can be trusted. It is broken up into three assessment forms, one self-report (long and short form), a teacher report, and a parent report. It can be administered and scored online, or with pencil and MHS Quikscore forms. The items on the teacher form and parent form correspond with information with the self-report form, suitably rephrased.

How does the CDI work? 

If you voice concerns to your child's doctor that they may be experiencing depression, they may conduct a screening to determine whether further support is necessary. If they decide that there is a chance that your child is experiencing depression, they may suggest that you speak with a psychiatrist or give them the short-form version of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). 

This first version of the CDI is a short screening with ten items, and the child takes approximately 15 minutes to fill it out. After completing this form, they may be recommended for the 27-item inventory, gathering additional information. You may be referred to a psychologist to administer the inventory if you haven't already.

Children are given the CDI to complete entirely independently and are asked to answer the questions based on the last two weeks. The questions on this self-report test offer them three statements that they can choose from to describe how they felt during that period. These questions focus on various areas, including self-esteem, decreased joy, interpersonal problems, ineffectiveness, and low mood.

The assessment is scored on two scales: emotional problems, and functional problems. It is further broken down into subscales: negative mood/physical symptoms, negative self-esteem, interpersonal problems, and ineffectiveness.

Does the CDI work?

Research shows that the CDI has high psychometric properties—meaning it is a reliable and valid measure—and is effective for diagnosing children with depression accurately and efficiently as long as it is used properly. One caveat is that it may not be recommended for children with difficulty reading. They may not be able to understand or answer the questions effectively. In addition, a professional trained in the CDI must read the results and ensure no direct correlations be made between a score on the inventory and the child's mental state without further interpretation.

There are several areas where some children may struggle with this inventory. For instance, the child might not fully understand their emotions, not report their emotions as adults do, or attempt to provide the "right" answers, regardless of whether they are true. Children may attempt to give the answer they believe someone is looking for rather than the answer they believe or feel to be true. For example, a child’s scores in the interpersonal problems subscale of the CDI may be skewed if they did not want to be perceived as lonely or antisocial. Because of this, a trained professional can be the one to administer the inventory and administer a comprehensive evaluation of the child, alongside interpreting the results.

For more on the CDI, see “Psychometric Properties of the Children’s Depression Inventory.” Also, the inventory is available for purchase on the website of Multi-Health Systems Inc. 

Preparing your child

It can be hard for children to understand the reasons they’re participating in a depression assessment. When you're preparing your child to take the Children’s Depression inventory, it may help to remind them that it is not a test. You can let them know that they will be given multiple choices and that none are right or wrong. In this way, your child may understand that any answer they give is the best and that they should choose the one they feel is true. You can also remind them that you love and support them no matter what answers they give on the inventory.

What happens next?

If your child has already been administered the CDI, you may wonder what your next steps should be. First, ensure a trained professional reads the results and that you can sit down with that person to discuss the results of the inventory. Keep in mind that a negative or positive result on the inventory is not necessarily definitive. It may be recommended that the inventory be completed again in a few weeks. A child who receives a positive score may be referred to a mental health professional, but they may also be recommended for a second test within two to four weeks. In some cases, a professional may determine that a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or another depressive disorder is warranted.

If your child receives a negative result, you might still want to watch any behavior that led you to believe they may have depression. Having them talk with a mental health professional may still be beneficial. A professional can administer a different depression inventory and screen for other types of mental health concerns—such as an anxiety disorder— which may ensure that your child gets the type of treatment best for them.  

When treating depression, the proper treatment can be vital because a lack of treatment or improper treatment could prolong symptoms or make them worse. With the aid of this inventory, a mental health professional may be able to help your child understand their feelings and express them positively and constructively.

Counseling options 

Regardless of the results of Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), your child might benefit from therapy. However, many children may feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar with the idea of visiting a stranger in a strange location. They might feel more comfortable with online therapy if they are nervous about going to a therapist's office. Studies have found that online therapy is as effective for depression and anxiety as in-person therapy and can be done from the comfort of your home. In addition, online therapy is often more cost-effective. 

If your child is 13 or older, they might try online therapy through a platform like TeenCounseling. This platform offers therapy entirely online, and you and your child can also contact the therapist via in-app messaging. Numerous other providers provide therapy online for depression in children who are younger, which may be more comfortable for them if they are just starting therapy.

In addition, it can be helpful for parents to see a therapist as they navigate the best ways to support their children with depression. With a platform like BetterHelp, parents can be matched with a licensed therapist with experience supporting parents.