Table 2.

Item response theory (IRT) item‐parameters for the beck depression inventory (BDI) in a sample of patients with acute cardiac syndromes (n = 1135) ordered by mean item‐threshold‐value

BDI item	Slope	Threshold 1a	Threshold 2a	Threshold 3a	Mean threshold
17‐Fatigability	1.13	−1.97	1.62	3.35	1.00
15‐Work inhibition	1.53	−0.78	1.30	2.57	1.03
16‐Sleep problems	0.95	−0.51	1.59	2.84	1.31
21‐Loss of libido	0.80	−0.10	1.74	2.88	1.51
13‐Indecisveness	1.65	0.20	1.42	3.33	1.65
20‐Somatic preoccupation	1.56	−0.14	1.83	3.59	1.76
2‐Pessimism	2.52	1.17	1.88	2.43	1.83
4‐Lack of satisfaction	2.08	−0.01	2.46	3.08	1.84
11‐Irritability	1.06	0.32	2.54	2.84	1.90
1‐Mood	1.89	0.78	2.20	3.90	2.29
6‐Sense of punishment	1.09	1.99	2.49	2.52	2.33
10‐Crying	1.12	0.89	3.06	3.15	2.37
3‐Sense of failure	1.88	1.58	2.53	3.68	2.60
5‐Guilty feelings	1.86	1.51	2.73	3.59	2.61
8‐Self accusation	1.56	1.27	3.08	4.04	2.80
14‐Body image	1.41	1.95	2.95	3.80	2.90
7‐Self dislike	1.89	1.28	3.62	4.07	2.99
12‐Social withdrawal	1.49	1.37	3.20	5.06	3.21
9‐Suicidal thoughts	1.68	2.06	3.76	4.42	3.41

Parameters based on a graded response IRT model.

^aThe category thresholds represent the level of depression (theta) necessary to report the category or higher.