PCN 644 Topic 3 DQ 2

PCN 644 Topic 3 DQ 2

What are some strengths and challenges of Beck’s Depression Scale for assessing emotional status? Do you feel that this scale is a good method to assess emotional status? Why or why not? Provide specific examples to support your position.

Also known as the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck’s Depression scale has many benefits. One of them is that the items in the self-report are easy to finish within a short time of five to ten minutes and therefore are not time-consuming. Also, the BDI has psychometric qualities which help the test administrators and advising examiners eliminate potential distortion of results since the self-reports are subject to response bias. Moreover, this scale has internal consistency and test-retest reliability showing it is useful in the assessment of emotional status. The primary challenge with BDI is distinguishing between patients who show legitimate depression symptoms and those who are faking the symptoms to obtain certain benefits (Farinde, 2013). I think the Beck’s depression scale can be used for assessing emotional status since depression is characterized by emotions such as sadness and sorrow. For example, if a patient is found to have depression using the BDI, then his/her emotional state can readily be determined given that depression is the feeling of severe downheartedness and despair.

eferences

Farinde, Abimbola. The Beck Depression Inventory. Vol. 2, Mar. 2013, http://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2013/vol2issue1/PartA/1.pdf.