title: Development and validation of a Rasch-derived CES-D short form.
abstract: The current study presents a Rasch-derived short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) for use as a depression screening tool in the general population. In contrast to short forms developed with reliance on classical measurement techniques, those developed using techniques based on item response theory produce a measure that offers true interval scaling, provide enhanced information about responders with extreme scores, and expand understanding of the underlying latent structure. Cross-validation of the Rasch-derived CES-D short form supported its utility and structural validity across samples. Tests of structural validity using latent variable modeling methodology indicated that a hierarchical, single-factor model of depression had the best fit for the original full form and the Rasch-derived short form of the CES-D. This finding challenges depression researchers and theorists to reconsider the interfactor relationships in the study and assessment of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoneuroimmunology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jcole@qualitymetric.com
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Adele S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rabin
authors.forename: Tom L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires