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The thesis is dealing with the topic of depression and measurement instruments, which may contribute to its diagnostics and assessment. Special attention is dedicated to the Beck Depression Inventory, second edition, and the aim of this thesis is to provide normative data acquired from a large sample of healthy adult participants coming from the Czech Republic (N = 450; aged 18 to 96 years). The Beck Depression Inventory, second edition (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) belongs among the most famous and most often used measures of depression severity. A significant relationship was found between the BDI-II total score and gender and education level, but not age. Women tended to score significantly higher than men on average, and a negative correlation between the BDI-II total score and education was found. Therefore, the normative data were analysed and stratified according to these two demographic variables. Tables, presenting means, standard deviations, percentiles and standard scores are provided for the total unstratified sample as well as for demographically defined subgroups. In addition, internal consistency of the Czech version was high (alpha above .80). The item-total correlations, and factorial structure of the instrument were investigated and the results were compared with results...

La validité et la fidélité d'une traduction en langue française de l'Inventaire d'épuisement professionnel de Maslach et Jackson (1986) (MBI) est étudiée. Les trois premières études portent sur 260 éducatrices en garderie et 123 infirmières qui ont rempli des questionnaires dont le MBI. Les résultats appuient la consistance interne, la stabilité temporelle, la validité factorielle, la validité de convergence et la validité hypothético-déductive. De plus, 6,9% des éducatrices ont développé des symptômes sérieux d'épuisement professionnel sur un intervalle d'un an. La quatrième étude a été effectuée auprès de 219 éducatrices en garderie qui ont répondus au MBI et à une version abrégée du BDI et les ont retournés par la poste. L'analyse factorielle des items du MBI et du BDI a démontré que les items saturent sur des facteurs distincts, suggérant que le MBI évalue une symptomatologie différente de celle mesurée par le BDI. Les résultats appuient l'utilisation du MBI comme outil d'évaluation d'un état non clinique d'épuisement professionnel.

INTRODUÇÃO: Embora seja amplamente difundida a ideia de que não existem diferenças significativas entre homens e mulheres em termos dos sintomas que experimentam durante os episódios depressivos, pesquisas recentes sugerem que as diferenças sutis no perfil de sintomas podem existir e apontar para fundamentais diferenças de gênero na fisiopatologia dos estados depressivos. As mulheres são duas vezes mais propensas que os homens a sofrer de transtorno depressivo maior durante a sua vida e uma série de estudos têm indicado que as mulheres deprimidas tendem a apresentar mais sintomas depressivos \"atípicos\" e mais ansiedade e sintomas de somatização quando comparadas com os homens. Alguns dos problemas com as abordagens tradicionais para medir estas diferenças se devem às deficiências da teoria estatística subjacente dessas abordagens, como é o caso da teoria clássica dos testes (TCT). Nos últimos anos, o uso da teoria de resposta ao item (TRI) começou a substituir TCT na construção e avaliação de testes e alguns autores têm seguido com o uso de métodos baseados na TRI para estudar significativas variações clínicas individuais em vez dos métodos tradicionais baseados em escores totais. Um modelo para a TRI muitas vezes utilizado com a pontuação de itens politômicos é o modelo de resposta gradual (MRG). O MRG é adequado para a análise de escalas psicométricas com as categorias de resposta ordenadas e crescentes. O funcionamento diferencial dos itens da escala do Inventário de Depressão de Beck segunda versão (BDI-II) foi investigado, por gênero, comparando estes subgrupos de alunos MÉTODOS: Os 21 itens do BDI-II foram aplicados transversalmente em uma amostra representativa de 12.677 estudantes universitários brasileiros. A confiabilidade foi avaliada com base no coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Os parâmetros gravidade (bi) e discriminação (a) de cada item do BDI-II foram calculados através do MRG. A influência do gênero foi testada para o funcionamento diferencial do item (DIF) dentro da abordagem baseada na TRI. RESULTADOS: O BDI-II apresentou boa confiabilidade (alfa = 0,91). As mulheres apresentaram significativamente maior probabilidade de depressão (ponto de corte > 13) do que os homens. Em geral, os participantes endossaram mais facilmente itens cognitivo-somáticos do que itens afetivos da escala. \"Sentimento de culpa\", \"ideias suicidas\" e \"perda de libido\" foram os itens que mais provavelmente indicaram maior gravidade da depressão (b3 >= 3,60). No entanto, todos os itens da BDI-II mostraram de moderada a alta discriminação (a >= 1,32) para o estado depressivo. Enquanto um item foi sinalizado como apresentando DIF, \"chorar\", com maior probabilidade das mulheres endossarem esse sintoma, o peso global desse item no escore total foi insignificante. CONCLUSÕES: Embora o gênero dos entrevistados possa apresentar influência no padrão de resposta dos sintomas depressivos, as medidas dos sintomas autorreferidos não inflacionaram os escores de gravidade. Esses achados fornecem suporte adicional à validade do uso do BDI-II para avaliar a depressão em contextos acadêmicos e destacam o valor de se considerar sintomas comuns de depressão relacionados ao sexo / INTRODUCTION: Although it is widely held that there are no significant differences between men and women in terms of the symptoms that they experience during depressive episodes, recent research suggests that subtle differences in symptom profile may exist and may point to fundamental gender differences in the pathophysiology of depressive states. Women are up to twice as likely as men to suffer from major depressive disorder during their lifetime and a number of studies have found that depressed females tend to exhibit more \'atypical\' depressive symptoms and more anxiety and somatization symptoms compared to men. Some of the problems with the traditional approaches to measure change are due to the shortcomings of the underlying statistical theory of these approaches, which is classical test theory (CTT). In recent years, the use of item response theory (IRT) has started to replace CTT in test construction and test evaluation and some authors have called for the use of IRT based methods to study individual clinical significant change instead of traditional methods based on total scores. An often-used IRT model for polytomous item scores is the graded response model (GRM). The GRM is suitable for analyzing psychometric scales with ordered and growing response categories. Potential differential item functioning of the scale items of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is investigated, by gender, to compare across sub-groups of students. METHODS: The 21-item BDI-II was cross-sectionally administered to a representative sample of 12,677 Brazilian college students. Reliability was evaluated based on Cronbach\'s alpha coefficient. Severity (bi) and discrimination (a) parameters of each BDI-II items were calculated through the GRM. The influence of gender and age were tested for differential item functioning (DIF) within the IRT-based approach. RESULTS: The BDI-II presented good reliability (alpha = 0.91). Women significantly presented a higher likelihood of depression (cut-off > 13) than men. In general, participants endorsed more easily cognitive-somatic items than affective items of the scale. \"Guilty feelings\", \"suicidal thoughts\", and \"loss of interest in sex\" were the items that most likely indicated depression severity (b3 >= 3.60). However, all BDI-II items showed moderate-to-high discrimination (a >= 1.32) for depressive state. While one item was flagged for DIF, \"crying\", for gender, with women more likely endorsed this symptom than men, the global weight of this item on the total score was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Although respondents\' gender might present influence on response pattern of depressive symptoms, the measures of self-reported symptoms have not inflated severity scores. These findings provide further support to the validity of using BDI-II for assessing depression in academic contexts and highlight the value of considering gender-related common symptoms of depression

O presente trabalho, sob o referencial da Teoria da Regulação Pessoal e Social da Conduta Delituosa, ocupou-se da compreensão da adaptação pessoal de um grupo de adolescentes judiciarizados (GJ) em comparação a um grupo de adolescentes não-judiciarizados (GNJ). Sessenta adolescentes do sexo masculino, com idades entre 16 e 18 anos, participaram da pesquisa, 30 constituindo o GJ e 30 constituindo o GNJ. A coleta de dados foi feita com três instrumentos: Invetário de Personalidade de Eysenck, (IPE), Inventário de Personalidade de Jesness (IPJ) e Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI). Os resultados indicaram diferenças de adaptação pessoal entre os grupos na medida em que o GJ e o GNJ tiveram médias significativamente diferentes em muitas das dimensões dos instrumentos utilizados (Propensão à Delinqüência, Neuroticismo e Psicotismo do IPE; DS, OV, Im, Au, Al, AM e IA do IPJ e; Tristeza, Insatisfação, Punição, Auto-aversão, Choro, Perda de Apetite e Escore Total do BDI). As diferenças entre os grupos revelaram que a adaptação pessoal do GJ é deficitária, denotando um desenvolvimento de personalidade mais egocêntrico (em oposição a um desenvolvimento alocêntrico da personalidade), em comparação ao GNJ. Os resultados obtidos através dos três instrumentos foram discutidos à luz dos resultados publicados pela literatura científica sobre o tema. Teceram-se algumas considerações finais acerca das contribuições trazidas por este estudo, bem como acerca de suas limitações. / This study was conducted under the basis of the Offensive Behavior Personal and Social Regulation Theory. It aimed to understand the personal adaptation of a group of adjudicated adolescents (AG) in comparison to a group of non- adjudicated ones (NAG). Sixty male adolescents with ages between 16 and 18 years participated of the research (30 composing AG and 30 composing NAG). The data collection was made with three instruments: Eysenck Personality Inventory, (EPI), Jesness Personality Inventory (JPI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results indicated that the groups differentiated on personal adaptation as AG and NAG had significantly different averages in many of the dimensions of the instruments (Propensity to the Deliquency, Neuroticism and Psicoticism of the IPE; SM, VO, Im, Au, Al, MA and AI of the IPJ and Sadness, Dissatisfaction, Punishment, Self-aversion, Tears, Appetite loss and Total score of the BDI). The inter-group differences showed that the AG personal adaptation is low, denoting a more self-centered personality development (the opposite of a personality alocentric development), in comparison to the NAG. The results from the three instruments were discussed in a comparison with the published results from scientific literature on the subject. Some final considerations regarding the contributions brought by this study, as well as some considerations regarding its limitations was carried out.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T17:27:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese completa Adrienne.pdf: 1037327 bytes, checksum: 1e2d23b00ebc618a5509376cc49aa5ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-06-24 / Objective: Determine impact of interventions in a day-hospital clinic on emotional status of HIV/AIDS patients attended at the School Hospital of the Federal University of Pelotas. Methods: A before and after clinical assay was conducted with patients 17 years old or older who were included in the study after signing formal consent. Individuals answered, on their first interview, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and a pattern questionnaire about demographic and social-economic factors. Information regarding their illness and current medication was withdrawn from medical charts. At the end of their follow-up, patients answered again the BDI and the BAI. Patients initially classified as presenting minimum, mild, moderate or severe levels of depression and anxiety had their initial and final mean scores evaluated. Results: We included 64 HIV/AIDS patients in this study. The mean age (±SD) was 36 years (9,3). The mean time (±SD) between the first and second interview was 14 days (8,9). All depression levels and mild and moderate categories of anxiety presented reductions in scores with statistical significance (p< 0,05). Mean improvement of initial and final BDI scores was 7.03 points (95% CI 5,51-8,55) and for BAI scores, 6,23 points (95%CI 4,10-8,37). Conclusions: This study identified a favourable impact of the day-hospital clinic on HIV/AIDS patients emotional state without psychotherapeutic intervention. / Objetivo: Determinar impacto das intervenções um Hospital-Dia no estado emocional de pacientes HIV/AIDS atendidos no Hospital-Escola da Universidade Federal de Pelotas. Métodos: Um ensaio clínico antes e depois foi realizado com pacientes HIV/AIDS com idade mínima de 17 anos, os quais foram incluídos no estudo após assinatura de consentimento informado. Os entrevistados realizaram a primeira investigação através do Inventário de Depressão Beck (BDI) e Ansiedade Beck (BAI) e um questionário padrão sobre dados demográficos e sócio-econômicos. Dados referentes à doença e medicações foram obtidos de prontuário médico. Ao final do atendimento no HD, pacientes responderam novamente ao BDI e BAI. Avaliou-se o escore médio inicial e final dos pacientes que inicialmente encontravam-se nos níveis mínimo, leve, moderado e grave tanto para depressão quanto para ansiedade. Resultados: Foram incluídos no estudo 64 pacientes HIV/AIDS. A idade média foi de 36 anos (dp 9,3); O tempo médio entre a primeira e a segunda entrevista foi de 14 dias (dp 8,9). Todos os níveis de depressão e as categorias leve e moderada, referentes à ansiedade, apresentaram redução dos escores com significância estatística (p<0,05). A melhora média dos escores iniciais e finais do BDI foi de 7,03 pontos (95% IC 5,51-8,55) e do BAI de 6,23 pontos (95% IC 4,10-8,37). Conclusões: Este estudo identificou um impacto favorável do Hospital-Dia no estado emocional dos pacientes HIV/AIDS acompanhados no serviço sem a realização de intervenção psicoterápica.

<p>HIV and AIDS are disease conditions that have led to high mortality rates in Southern Africa since the late 1970s. The socio-economic system has led to the unequal spread of resources&rsquo / and vulnerability and exposure to HIV is more prevalent in poorer communities. The added burden of life stresses cause for many to be isolated and stigmatised and are often not equipped with the necessary support and coping skills to deal with the magnitude of these circumstances. There is a high prevalence of mental disorders and especially depression amongst individuals infected with either HIV or AIDS. Research shows that stressful life events can impact HIV course progression and impacts the QoL of those infected with HIV or AIDS. Given the social and psychological context of HIV and AIDS, the aim of the study was to examine the relationship between depression and QoL in a sample of adults diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. This quantitative, cross-sectional study used the Becks Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), to measure the variables concerned. This battery of&nbsp / questionnaires was administered to a purposive sample of adult individuals diagnosed with HIV or AIDS residing in a previously disadvantaged area in the Cape Metropole region. Using SPSS,&nbsp / data was analysed and descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. The study found that there were more women than men with HIV or AIDS that were found to be depressed (mild, moderate and severe depression). Furthermore, the depressive state increased when the progression of the disease increased. There were generally no significant differences in the QoL&nbsp / experienced within various areas of life and overall life satisfaction experienced. However, the QoL experienced in work was lower. There was a significant relationship between the depressed state and QoL and life satisfaction experienced in household duties and tasks. The contribution of this study includes informing the larger research project, with regards to future treatment&nbsp / regimes. It will update statistics on the prevalence of depression and QoL of adults diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in the area. This study is framed within a biopsychosocial model and is&nbsp / theoretically underpinned by Beck&rsquo / s theory of depression. Key words: HIV, AIDS, adults, depression, quality of life (QoL), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), Antiretrovirals (ARV&rsquo / s), prevalence data, correlations.</p>

The aims of the studies were to assess body image perceptions, the role of stress and other possible associated psychopathologies within a non-clinical sample. The prevalence of body image concern is increasing and is widely considered as secondary to evolving socio-cultural trends. Negative self-perceptions about body image can be manifest as measurable indicators of physiological stress, or even psychopathology. This thesis describes two quantitative studies into the role and relevance of various causative factors in the development of negative body image in cohorts of volunteers drawn from the general population of the University of Bradford in West Yorkshire, UK. In Study One, subjects (n=360) completed a self-directed questionnaire that psychometrically measured satisfaction/dissatisfaction with personal appearance, queried which external sources influenced those opinions, and correlated these with demographic information. In particular, we sought to examine how a subject's opinion about their personal appearance varied with age, gender, ethnicity, mental health, relationship status, sexual orientation and Body Mass Index (BMI). Subjective views regarding personal appearance were determined by answers given to specific body image questions that revealed a subject's day-to-day appearance concerns, all preoccupations, and the extent to which these concerns resulted in distress, all social impairment. Overall, the results demonstrated that BMI values were positively correlated with personal appearance concerns. High BMI values correlated with greater dissatisfaction with personal appearance. Self ratings of appearance values were negatively correlated with BMI scores. Subjects who gave themselves high appearance ratings were relatively unaffected by media influence with regard to their image, compared to subjects rating themselves less attractive. These latter subjects also showed higher peer pressure scores in terms of both the amount of time they compared themselves to peers, and the degree to which peer comparisons affected their self-appearance ratings. Based on responses to the body image questions specifically, the entire cohort of subjects were categorised into principal clusters: those largely unaffected by any body image concerns; and those profoundly distressed by their self assessed body image. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these findings is that the scores for this latter (n=17) group of subjects on the body image questions revealed a degree of personal distress this is almost identical to the scores expected from those people diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Collectively, these results suggest that high BMI values in subjects negatively impact on self-appearance ratings, render subjects more prone to media messages that portray body image ideals, and elicit frequent comparisons with peers to validate self-image concerns. Furthermore, severely affected subjects with high BMI scores may show similar psychopathology to that of BDD sufferers. In Study Two, a small cohort of subjects (n=60) were given questionnaires and were interviewed to further investigate self-appearance ratings and mood/depressive traits. The body image questions used in Study One to assess image concerns and the magnitude of distress were repeated in Study Two. Mood and depressive state were measured using the validated Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). In parallel, subjects completed the Derriford Appearance Scale 59 (DAS 59), which is a valid psychometric indication of an individual's perception of their appearance as 'normal' or 'disfigured', and used as a tool by plastic surgeons to inform decisions regarding the necessity for surgery to correct an individual's appearance. Physiological markers were recorded before and after exposure of subjects to a physical and a psychological stressor: these were saliva concentrations of cortisol and sIgA (an immune marker), blood glucose and blood pressure. The results of Study Two revealed no changes in scores for any of the physiological measures following stressors. BDI scores for most subjects fell within normal ranges, although females scored higher than males, but not at a pathological level. Those subjects with a history of mental illness or those who reported feeling a high degree of stress on a daily basis, or those who expressed greater self-appearance concerns, all had significantly elevated BDI values. Perhaps the most intriguing finding from Study Two, as in Study One, was that subjects again tended to fall within specific categories for body image concerns: those unaffected or minimally affected by body image concerns, and those (n=6) greatly and deleteriously affected by body image concerns. This subsection of subjects also scored very high on the DAS 59 for disfigurement. On the basis of these findings it would seem that body image concerns may be severe enough for some individuals for them to perceive themselves as actually being disfigured, or that the DAS 59 (a widely used assessment tool in plastic surgery), may not be entirely appropriate for assessment of an individual's need for surgery because it cannot distinguish between those genuinely disfigured and those merely expressing severe body image concerns.

<p>HIV and AIDS are disease conditions that have led to high mortality rates in Southern Africa since the late 1970s. The socio-economic system has led to the unequal spread of resources&rsquo / and vulnerability and exposure to HIV is more prevalent in poorer communities. The added burden of life stresses cause for many to be isolated and stigmatised and are often not equipped with the necessary support and coping skills to deal with the magnitude of these circumstances. There is a high prevalence of mental disorders and especially depression amongst individuals infected with either HIV or AIDS. Research shows that stressful life events can impact HIV course progression and impacts the QoL of those infected with HIV or AIDS. Given the social and psychological context of HIV and AIDS, the aim of the study was to examine the relationship between depression and QoL in a sample of adults diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. This quantitative, cross-sectional study used the Becks Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), to measure the variables concerned. This battery of&nbsp / questionnaires was administered to a purposive sample of adult individuals diagnosed with HIV or AIDS residing in a previously disadvantaged area in the Cape Metropole region. Using SPSS,&nbsp / data was analysed and descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted. The study found that there were more women than men with HIV or AIDS that were found to be depressed (mild, moderate and severe depression). Furthermore, the depressive state increased when the progression of the disease increased. There were generally no significant differences in the QoL&nbsp / experienced within various areas of life and overall life satisfaction experienced. However, the QoL experienced in work was lower. There was a significant relationship between the depressed state and QoL and life satisfaction experienced in household duties and tasks. The contribution of this study includes informing the larger research project, with regards to future treatment&nbsp / regimes. It will update statistics on the prevalence of depression and QoL of adults diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in the area. This study is framed within a biopsychosocial model and is&nbsp / theoretically underpinned by Beck&rsquo / s theory of depression. Key words: HIV, AIDS, adults, depression, quality of life (QoL), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI II), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), Antiretrovirals (ARV&rsquo / s), prevalence data, correlations.</p>

A depressão é uma doença com alta prevalência no mundo todo e se manifesta através de diversos sintomas observáveis, os chamados sintomas depressivos. Determinar a intensidade dos sintomas depressivos pode ser importante para verificar o estágio da depressão e avaliar seu desfecho, e quanto mais acurada e rápida for esta medida mais benefícios podem ser alcançados. A intensidade dos sintomas depressivos é um traço latente que pode ser medido através de instrumentos compostos por itens representativos destes sintomas observáveis, como o Inventário de Depressão Beck (BDI). É importante que a metodologia para analisar instrumentos do tipo do BDI considere que nem todos os sintomas depressivos têm a mesma importância em relação ao traço latente que pretendem medir. A Teoria da Resposta ao Item (TRI) compreende um grupo de modelos lineares generalizados e procedimentos estatísticos associados, que descrevem a associação entre o nível de um indivíduo sobre o traço latente e a probabilidade de uma resposta a um item. Estes modelos têm como uma de suas características especiais que os níveis estimados do traço latente sendo medido incorporam as diferenças em discriminação e gravidade de cada item constante no instrumento de medida, isto é, os itens entram com diferentes pesos na estimativa do traço latente dos indivíduos avaliados. OBJETIVOS: Este trabalho tem por objetivo mostrar a potencialidade dos modelos da TRI e o total aproveitamento das informações quando do uso destes modelos na análise de dados oriundos do BDI para a medida de intensidade de sintomas depressivos. MÉTODO: Os dados são provenientes de um estudo transversal conduzido para realizar a adaptação, normatização e validação para o português das Escalas Beck, em um estudo conduzido pela Dra. Jurema Alcides Cunha (PUCRS) e publicado em 2001; os modelos TRI utilizados na análise destes dados foram o modelo de Resposta Gradual de Samejima (1969) e o modelo para Itens Constrangedores de Cúri (2006). RESULTADOS: Os sintomas depressivos que melhor discriminam a população quanto ao nível de intensidade de sintomas depressivos são sentimento de fracasso, insatisfações, tristeza, auto-aversão, indecisão, dificuldade de trabalhar e pessimismo; e os que menos discriminam são perda de peso, irritabilidade e auto-acusações. Os sintomas mais graves são perda de peso, retraimento social, idéias suicidas, sentimento de fracasso apenas para as mulheres e perda da libido apenas para os homens (estes dois últimos são itens com funcionamento diferencial). CONCLUSÕES: Este estudo mostrou os inúmeros ganhos advindos da utilização de modelos TRI na avaliação da intensidade de sintomas depressivos, pois sua utilização aproveita totalmente a informação, considerando o perfil de cada indivíduo que responde ao instrumento, contribuindo na identificação daqueles que apresentam potencial depressivo. / CONTEXT: Depression is a disease with high prevalence worldwide and manifests itself through various symptoms observed, so-called depressive symptoms. To determine the intensity of depressive symptoms may be important to determine the stage of depression and evaluate its outcome, and the more rapid and accurate is this more benefits can be achieved. The intensity of depressive symptoms is a latent trait that can be measured by instruments consisting of items representative of observable symptoms, as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). It is important that the methodology for analyzing instruments of the type of BDI considers that not all depressive symptoms have the same importance in relation to the latent trait they wish to measure. The Item Response Theory (IRT) comprises a group of generalized linear models and statistical procedures involved, which describe the association between the level of an individual on the latent trait and the likelihood of a response to an item. These models have as one of its special characteristics that the estimated levels of latent trait being measured incorporate the differences in discrimination and severity of each item contained in the measuring instrument, that is, those items come with different weights in the estimation of latent trait of individuals evaluated. OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to show the capability of the models of the IRR and total utilization of information when using these models to analyze data from the BDI to measure the intensity of depressive symptoms. METHOD: The data come from a cross-sectional study conducted for the adaptation, standardization and validation of Beck scales for the portuguese, in a study conducted by Dr. Alcides Jurema Cunha (PUCRS) and published in 2001; the TRI models used in the analysis of these data was the Graded-Response model of Samejima (1969) and the model IRT for embarrassing items of Cúri (2006).RESULTS: The depressive symptoms that best depict the population about the level of intensity of depressive symptoms are feeling of failure, dissatisfaction, sadness, self-hatred, indecision, difficulty of work and pessimism; and those who are less discriminating are weight loss, irritability and self-accusations. The symptoms are more severe weight loss, social withdrawal, suicidal thoughts, feelings of failure only for women and loss of libido only for men (the latter two items are working with differential functioning). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed the many gains resulting from use of IRT models in the assessment of the intensity of depressive symptoms, because their use completely takes the information, considering the profile of each person who responds to the instrument, helping to identify those which have the potential depression.