Multiscore Depression Inventory for Children (MDI-C)

administration: 
Self-report
timing: 
15-20 minutes (untimed)
publisher: 
Western Psychological Services
Country of origin: 
USA
registration-level: 
C
age: 
8 - 17
test-abbreviation: 
MDI-C
test-abbreviation: 
MDI-C
registration-level: 
C
age: 
8 - 17
Country of origin: 
USA
administration: 
Self-report
timing: 
15-20 minutes (untimed)

This unique self-report inventory with items written by children assesses depression in 8 to 17 year olds. A downward extension of the highly regarded Multiscore Depression Inventory, the MDI-C lets youngsters indicate how they feel, giving you a childs-eye view of their emotional world. Its ideal for both routine screening and clinical assessment.

The MDI-C is the first measure of childhood depression with items created by children, written in their own words. During test development, children between 8 and 13 years of age reviewed MDI-C items, and items were revised, reworded, or added based on their suggestions. Consequently, MDI-C items have excellent face validity. Written at a secondgrade reading level, they are brief, easy to understand, and meaningful to children.

Completed in just 15 to 20 minutes, the MDI-C includes 79 true-false items on eight scales: anxiety; self-esteem; social introversion; instrumental helplessness; sad mood; pessimism; low energy and defiance.