Determining the optimal clinical cutoff on the CES-D for depression in a community corrections sample

Results suggest that the CES-D is a useful screening measure for depressive symptoms among high-risk individuals under criminal justice supervision. However, the current cutoff score of 16 is inadequate for optimizing true positives and false negatives. Possible gender and racial/ethnic bias may limit the utility of this instrument in this population. The current study contributes to the understanding of mental health needs in underserved populations.