Which scale measures the severity of depression?

• A. PHQ-9
• B. GAD-7
• C. HADS
• D. BDI

Answer: (D)

Measuring how severe depression is requires a tool that quantifies the intensity of depressive symptoms across multiple domains. The Beck Depression Inventory does exactly that: it’s a self-report questionnaire that asks about mood, cognitive symptoms, and physical/behavioral signs of depression over a recent period. Each item is scored, and the total score reflects overall severity—the higher the score, the more severe the depression. This makes it particularly useful for tracking change over time and evaluating treatment response.

Other scales have different primary uses. One is focused on anxiety rather than depressive severity. Another blends anxiety and depression and is often used in hospital settings, not specifically to gauge the depth of depressive symptoms. A widely used screening tool for depression in primary care exists as well, and it can indicate severity, but it isn’t as targeted for detailed severity scoring as the Beck Depression Inventory.