IPIP Depression Scale

Scale Overview & Construct

IPIP items measuring depressive symptoms, designed to approximate the CES-D.

21-Item Scale Likert Self-Report Dimensional Breakdown Server-Side Validated

Purpose & Measurement Objectives

IPIP items measuring depressive symptoms, designed to approximate the CES-D. Based on your answers to its 21 items, you'll get a single overall score showing how strongly this pattern applies to you right now. Your result puts a number and a pattern to something you may have only sensed in a general way before.

Instrument Specifications

Target Population

Teachers, Educators & Faculty

Administration Format

Self-Administered

Intended Domain / Purpose

Research & Empirical Study

Recommended Age Bracket

Adults (18+ yrs)

Duration & Pacing

9 Minutes (Self-Paced)

Access License

Open Creative Commons

Scientific Documentation & Psychometric Rigor

Developer / Author

Items drawn from the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP), Goldberg, L. R.

Development Year

1999

Theoretical Construct & Framework Public-domain personality item pool, used here to construct a trait-depression content scale.

Academic Citations

Goldberg, L. R. (1999). A broad-bandwidth, public-domain, personality inventory measuring the lower-level facets of several five-factor models. In I. Mervielde, I. Deary, F. De Fruyt, & F. Ostendorf (Eds.), Personality Psychology in Europe (Vol. 7, pp. 7-28). Tilburg University Press.

Academic Citation & Instrument Provenance

When referencing this instrument in research, academic theses, or clinical institutional audits, please cite the original author publication:

License: Public Domain. Citation: Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1(3), 385-401. This is not a diagnostic tool. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact a licensed mental health professional or a crisis helpline in your country immediately. Low/Moderate/High bands below reflect this test's own possible score range only (simple thirds) — they are NOT a clinical threshold or population norm. No such cutoff has been published for this instrument.

Governance, Boundaries & Ethical Use

Construct Boundaries & Interpretive Limitations

Imported from the OpenScales open item-bank project. This specific digital implementation has not been independently clinically validated by PsiQ — scores are for self-reflection, research, and educational purposes only, and are not a diagnosis.

License: Public Domain. Citation: Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D Scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1(3), 385-401. This is not a diagnostic tool. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact a licensed mental health professional or a crisis helpline in your country immediately. Low/Moderate/High bands below reflect this test's own possible score range only (simple thirds) — they are NOT a clinical threshold or population norm. No such cutoff has been published for this instrument.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IPIP Depression Scale?

IPIP items measuring depressive symptoms, designed to approximate the CES-D.

How long does the IPIP Depression Scale take?

It takes about 9 minutes to answer all 21 questions. You can go at your own pace.

Is this test free, and is it available in Hindi?

Yes, it is free with a PsiQ account. The questions and answer options are available in English, Hindi and Hinglish.

Can this test diagnose a condition?

No. Online self-report scales are for self-reflection, education and research, not diagnosis. If you are worried about your mental health, please speak to a qualified mental-health professional.