Validation of the Bech–Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale in patients with major depression; is the total score a valid measure of illness severity?

Licht, Rasmus W; Qvitzau, Susanne; Allerup, Peter; Bech, Per

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00440.x

Cited by 110 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The subscale defined by these six items is now commonly referred to as 'Hamilton-6' (HDRS 6 ) (5). As opposed to the HDRS, the psychometric validity of the HDRS 6 has been confirmed numerous times (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) since its derivation from the HDRS in 1975 (6). Importantly, when using the total score on the HDRS 6 as outcome measure in RCTs of SSRIs (and related antidepressants) versus placebo, the effect sizes are markedly larger than those obtained when using the total score of the HDRS as outcome measure (17)(18)(19)(20).…”

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confidence: 91%

“…In two landmark studies from 1975 (6) and 1981 (7), respectively, Bech et al demonstrated that the original HDRS met none of these two criteria. This lack of psychometric validity of the HDRS has been confirmed in a large number of studies since then (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Therefore, the total score of the HDRS cannot be considered as a clinically valid measure of the severity of depression (5,16).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Do not blame the SSRIs: blame the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Østergaard

2017

Acta Neuropsychiatr.

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confidence: 91%

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confidence: 99%

Do not blame the SSRIs: blame the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Østergaard

2017

Acta Neuropsychiatr.

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“…In addition, the 17-item version has also been shown to measure more than one dimension. 58 The Ham-D is available in the public domain (see, for example, Table 3 located in Supplementary Material) and has been translated into most European and Asian languages. There are self-rated and over the telephone-administered formats that yield comparable results to the intervieweradministered version.…”

Section: Depression In Non-pd Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depression rating scales in Parkinson's disease: Critique and recommendations

Schrag¹,

Barone²,

Brown³

et al. 2007

Movement Disorders

585

348

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Depression is a common comorbid condition in Parkinson's disease (PD) and a major contributor to poor quality of life and disability. However, depression can be difficult to assess in patients with PD due to overlapping symptoms and difficulties in the assessment of depression in cognitively impaired patients. As several rating scales have been used to assess depression in PD (dPD), the Movement Disorder Society commissioned a task force to assess their clinimetric properties and make clinical recommendations regarding their use. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the use of depression scales in PD and determine which scales should be selected for this review. The scales reviewed were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Scale (Ham-D), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part I, Cornell Scale for the Assessment of Depression in Dementia (CSDD), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Seven clinical researchers with clinical and research experience in the assessment of dPD were assigned to review the scales using a structured format. The most appropriate scale is dependent on the clinical or research goal. However, observer-rated scales are preferred if the study or clinical situation permits. For screening purposes, the HAM-D, BDI, HADS, MADRS, and GDS are valid in dPD. The CES-D and CSDD are alternative instruments that need validation in dPD. For measurement of severity of depressive symptoms, the Ham-D, MADRS, BDI, and SDS scales are recommended. Further studies are needed to validate the CSDD, which could be particularly useful for the assessment of severity of dPD in patients with comorbid dementia. To account for overlapping motor and nonmotor symptoms of depression, adjusted instrument cutoff scores may be needed for dPD, and scales to assess severity of motor symptoms (e.g., UPDRS) should also be included to help adjust for confounding factors. The HADS and the GDS include limited motor symptom assessment and may, therefore, be most useful in rating depression severity across a range of PD severity; however, these scales appear insensitive in severe depression. The complex and time-consuming task of developing a new scale to measure depression specifically for patients with PD is currently not warranted.

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“…69,70 More recently there has been a surge of interest in IRT for quality of life and related constructs. Papers advocating the use of IRT in health outcome measurement include Revicki and Cella 71 and Hays et al 72 in Quality of Life Research and Medical Care, respectively, journals that regularly publish papers using IRT.…”

Section: Some Applications Of Irt In Medical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Classical latent variable models for medical research

Rabe‐Hesketh

Skrondal

2008

Stat Methods Med Res

120

110

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Latent variable models are commonly used in medical statistics, although often not referred to under this name. In this paper we describe classical latent variable models such as factor analysis, item response theory, latent class models and structural equation models. Their usefulness in medical research is demonstrated using real data. Examples include measurement of forced expiratory flow, measurement of physical disability, diagnosis of myocardial infarction and modelling the determinants of clients' satisfaction with counsellors' interviews.

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Validation of the Bech–Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale in patients with major depression; is the total score a valid measure of illness severity?

Abstract: The HAM-D(6) and the MES did fulfil criteria for unidimensionality while the HAM-D(17) did not. Therefore, the extended use of the HAM-D(17) in drug trials may be questioned.

Cited by 110 publications

References 23 publications

Do not blame the SSRIs: blame the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Do not blame the SSRIs: blame the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Depression rating scales in Parkinson's disease: Critique and recommendations

Classical latent variable models for medical research

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