Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC)

Self-report questionnaire for young people between the ages of 6 and 17 useful for tracking depressive symptoms over time.

Below is a list of the ways you might have felt or acted. Please check how much you have felt this way during the past week.

I was bothered by things that usually don’t bother me. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I did not feel like eating, I wasn’t very hungry. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I wasn’t able to feel happy, even when my family or friends tried to help me feel better. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like I was just as good as other kids. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like I couldn’t pay attention to what I was doing. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt down and unhappy. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like I was too tired to do things. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like something good was going to happen. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like things I did before didn’t work out right. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt scared. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I didn’t sleep as well as I usually sleep. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I was happy. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I was more quiet than usual. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt lonely, like I didn’t have any friends. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like kids I know were not friendly or that they didn’t want to be with me. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I had a good time. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt like crying. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt sad. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

I felt people didn’t like me. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

It was hard to get started doing things. Not at all

A little

Some

A lot

Interpretation

Sources:

Weissman, M. M., Orvaschel, H., & Padian, N. (1980). Children’s Symptom and Social Functioning Self-Report Scales Comparison of Mothers’ and Children’s Reports. The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 168(12), 736-740.
Faulstich, M. E., Carey, M. P., Ruggiero, L., Enyart, P., & Gresham, F. (1986). Assessment of depression in childhood and adolescence: An evaluation of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC). The American journal of psychiatry.