The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is a widely used self-report measure for assessing depression. This review summarizes its psychometric properties across various populations and settings. The BDI-II demonstrates high internal consistency (around 0.9) and retest reliability (0.73-0.96). It shows strong correlation with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I) and good sensitivity and specificity for detecting depression compared to gold standards. Factor analysis reveals a robust general depression dimension composed of cognitive-affective and somatic-vegetative constructs. The BDI-II has good concurrent, content, and structural validity, and is considered a cost-effective tool for measuring depression severity in research and clinical practice. However, cutoff scores for depression detection vary by sample type. The BDI-II is not theoretically driven, but its content coverage is broader than the DSM-IV description of major depression. It has good convergent validity with other depression scales and moderate validity with anxiety scales. Discriminant validity is lower with alcohol/drug use and chronic pain scales. The BDI-II has good content validity but is narrower than its predecessor. Factor analysis shows a two-dimensional structure, though some studies suggest three dimensions. Cross-cultural validity varies across language versions. The BDI-II is reliable and valid but has limitations in generalizability due to potential measurement errors and cultural differences. It is a useful tool for screening depression but should not be used as a diagnostic instrument alone. The BDI-II is a well-established instrument with strong psychometric properties, but its use should be considered in the context of its limitations.The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is a widely used self-report measure for assessing depression. This review summarizes its psychometric properties across various populations and settings. The BDI-II demonstrates high internal consistency (around 0.9) and retest reliability (0.73-0.96). It shows strong correlation with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I) and good sensitivity and specificity for detecting depression compared to gold standards. Factor analysis reveals a robust general depression dimension composed of cognitive-affective and somatic-vegetative constructs. The BDI-II has good concurrent, content, and structural validity, and is considered a cost-effective tool for measuring depression severity in research and clinical practice. However, cutoff scores for depression detection vary by sample type. The BDI-II is not theoretically driven, but its content coverage is broader than the DSM-IV description of major depression. It has good convergent validity with other depression scales and moderate validity with anxiety scales. Discriminant validity is lower with alcohol/drug use and chronic pain scales. The BDI-II has good content validity but is narrower than its predecessor. Factor analysis shows a two-dimensional structure, though some studies suggest three dimensions. Cross-cultural validity varies across language versions. The BDI-II is reliable and valid but has limitations in generalizability due to potential measurement errors and cultural differences. It is a useful tool for screening depression but should not be used as a diagnostic instrument alone. The BDI-II is a well-established instrument with strong psychometric properties, but its use should be considered in the context of its limitations.