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The Carroll rating scales (CRS) was developed as a self rating instrument for depression, closely matching the information content and specific items of the Hamilton rating scales (HRS). The CRS was found to have acceptable face validity and reliability. The concurrent validity of the CRS was acceptable, based on comparisons with the HRS and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The internal consistency of the CRS was very similar to that of the HRS. The CRS contained information about HRS scores beyond what could be predicted from BDI scores, but the BDI did not predict HRS scores beyond what could be predicted from CRS scores. The CRS and BDI scores were strongly correlated and both had access to a subjective dimension of depression that could not be predicted from HRS scores. The complementary uses of self ratings and observer ratings are evident from these results. The CRS may be a useful alternative to the BDI as a self rating scale, with the additional advantage of closer correspondence to the HRS.

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Patients in an effective disorders out-patient clinic were studied with four depression rating scales: the Hamilton rating scale (HRS) the Carroll rating scale (CRS) a clinical global rating of depression (CGRD) and the visual analogue scale (VAS). The overall correlations between the self ratings (CRS, VAS) and the observer ratings (HRS, CGRD) were highly significant. Both the HRS and the CRS distinguished mild from moderate, and moderate from severe depression. CRS scores increased more rapidly than HRS scores with increasing severity of depression. The concordance of self ratings and observer ratings was highest for the two structured instruments (HRS and CRS), and was lowest for the two global scales (CGRD and VAS). The global scales have the advantages of speed and simplicity, but at the cost of some reliability. Patients with non-endogenous depression had significantly increased self rating scores in comparison to patients with unipolar or bipolar endogenous depression. The correlations between the self ratings and the observer ratings were notably lower in patients with non-endogenous depression than in patients with endogenous depression. Euthymic bipolar patients rated themselves on the VAS as significantly less well than euthymic unipolar patients. The clinical and research implications of these findings are discussed.