Beck Depression Inventory BDI 1 and 2 Commonly Used Clinical Scales  Beck Depression Inventory The Beck Depression Inventory created by Aaron T. Beck is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, one of the most widely used psychometric tests for measuring the severity of depression. In its current version, the BDI-II is designed for individuals aged thirteen and over and is composed of items relating to symptoms of depression such as hopelessness and irritability. Versions There are three versions of the BDI Original BDI, first published in 1961. Revised in 1978 as the BDI-1A the BDI-II published in 1996.  The BDI is widely used as an assessment tool by health care professionals and researchers in a variety of settings. The BDI-II was developed in response to the American Psychiatric Association's publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, which changed many of the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. Participa