common mental illness in the U.S. caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. To help measure the severity of a person’s depression symptoms, the Beck Depression Inventory is widely used by clinicians and individuals.
It is a 21 item self report for adolescents and adults created by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist renowned as the “father of cognitive therapy.” While this questionnaire is not used to diagnose a person with depression, it can be a useful instrument in helping a person determine if, and to what degree, they need to seek help for their symptoms.