Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression Scale (CES-D) - Norms for adolescents and extension for the assessment of manic symptoms

The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) is often used to assess depressive symptoms in the general population. This is also true for its German version. However, there are no norm data yet available for people under the age of 18. If one wants to screen for hypomanic or manic symptoms, no short and economic self-report instrument exists at all. Therefore we modified the CES-D and added nine questions covering the DSM IV criteria for manic episodes. This questionnaire was completed by 4032 students of the age groups 13 to 17, The psychometric properties of the CES-D of minors are equivalent to those of adults. The norm data are presented for this sample in percentiles. The "manic" symptoms achieved an internal consistency of .64. Using factor analysis, "mania" constituted a separate factor that was independent of the depression factor, However. the items assessing irritability and distractibility loaded higher on the depression than on the mania factor. Possible causes for such discrepancies are discussed.