An examination of the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a neurorehabilitation inpatient sample.

The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is widely used for assessing depression in neurorehabilitation. Given the concern that the somatic items might be misleading, we examined its factor structure in 353 inpatients. Exploratory factor analysis was undertaken to compare two- to five-factor solutions. Confirmatory factor analysis was then used to test the best exploratory solutions for goodness of fit on a subsample. Both provided strong support for a general depression factor and two specific factors, one somatic and one cognitive/affective. The BDI-II provides a meaningful score of overall depression, and it can also yield two subscores-one measuring somatic symptoms and the other measuring psychological symptoms of depression. To avoid confusing the common symptoms of neurological disability with depression in neurorehabilitation, clinicians need to consider all three scores carefully. (JINS, 2009, 15, 142-147.).