Am J Psychiatry 161:2163-2177, December 2004
© 2004 American Psychiatric Association
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale: Has the Gold Standard Become a Lead Weight?
R. Michael Bagby, Ph.D.,
Andrew G. Ryder, M.A.,
Deborah R. Schuller, M.D., and
Margarita B. Marshall, B.Sc.
OBJECTIVE: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale has been the gold standard for the assessment of depression for more than 40 years. Criticism of the instrument has been increasing. The authors review studies published since the last major review of this instrument in 1979 that explicitly examine the psychometric properties of the Hamilton depression scale. The authors’ goal is to determine whether continued use of the Hamilton depression scale as a measure of treatment outcome is justified. METHOD: MEDLINE was searched for studies published since 1979 that examine psychometric properties of the Hamilton depression scale. Seventy studies were identified and selected, and then grouped into three categories on the basis of the major psychometric properties examined—reliability, item-response characteristics, and validity. RESULTS: The Hamilton depression scale’s internal reliability is adequate, but many scale items are poor contributors to the measurement of depression severity; others have poor interrater and retest reliability. For many items, the format for response options is not optimal. Content validity is poor; convergent validity and discriminant validity are adequate. The factor structure of the Hamilton depression scale is multidimensional but with poor replication across samples. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that the Hamilton depression scale is psychometrically and conceptually flawed. The breadth and severity of the problems militate against efforts to revise the current instrument. After more than 40 years, it is time to embrace a new gold standard for assessment of depression.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
G Gartlehner and B N Gaynes
Are all antidepressants equal?
Evid. Based Ment. Health,
November 1, 2009;
12(4):
98 - 100.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Barbui, A. Cipriani, T. A Furukawa, G. Salanti, J. P T Higgins, R. Churchill, N. Watanabe, A. Nakagawa, I. M Omori, and J. R Geddes
Making the best use of available evidence: the case of new generation antidepressants: A response to: Are all antidepressants equal?
Evid. Based Ment. Health,
November 1, 2009;
12(4):
101 - 104.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. S. Vickers, C. A. Patten, B. A. Lewis, M. M. Clark, M. Ussher, J. O. Ebbert, I. T. Croghan, P. A. Decker, J. Hathaway, B. H. Marcus, et al.
Feasibility of an exercise counseling intervention for depressed women smokers
Nicotine Tob Res,
August 1, 2009;
11(8):
985 - 995.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. E. Lancioni, N. N. Singh, M. F. O'Reilly, J. Sigafoos, M. T. Pangrazio, M. Megna, N. Zonno, M. L. La Martire, K. Pinto,, and M. G. Minervini
Persons With Moderate Alzheimer's Disease Improve Activities and Mood via Instruction Technology
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias,
June 1, 2009;
24(3):
246 - 257.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Olden, B. Rosenfeld, H. Pessin, and W. Breitbart
Measuring Depression at the End of Life: Is the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale a Valid Instrument?
Assessment,
March 1, 2009;
16(1):
43 - 54.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Uher, W. Maier, J. Hauser, A. Marusic, C. Schmael, O. Mors, N. Henigsberg, D. Souery, A. Placentino, M. Rietschel, et al.
Differential efficacy of escitalopram and nortriptyline on dimensional measures of depression
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
March 1, 2009;
194(3):
252 - 259.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Vanheule, M. Desmet, H. Groenvynck, Y. Rosseel, and J. Fontaine
The Factor Structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II: An Evaluation
Assessment,
June 1, 2008;
15(2):
177 - 187.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. A. Thomas, D. W. Chapa, E. Friedmann, C. Durden, A. Ross, M. C. Y. Lee, and H.-J. Lee
Depression in Patients With Heart Failure: Prevalence, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Treatment
Crit. Care Nurse,
April 1, 2008;
28(2):
40 - 55.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Wahlberg
Above and beyond superstition -- western herbal medicine and the decriminalizing of placebo
History of the Human Sciences,
February 1, 2008;
21(1):
77 - 101.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. B. W. Williams and K. A. Kobak
Development and reliability of a structured interview guide for the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (SIGMA)
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
January 1, 2008;
192(1):
52 - 58.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. E. Angermann, G. Gelbrich, S. Stork, A. Fallgatter, J. Deckert, H. Faller, G. Ertl, and on behalf of the MOOD-HF Investigators
Rationale and design of a randomised, controlled, multicenter trial investigating the effects of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibition on morbidity, mortality and mood in depressed heart failure patients (MOOD-HF)
Eur J Heart Fail,
December 1, 2007;
9(12):
1212 - 1222.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. L. Fiori, J. Smith, and T. C. Antonucci
Social Network Types Among Older Adults: A Multidimensional Approach
J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci.,
November 1, 2007;
62(6):
P322 - P330.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O. Poutanen, A.-M. Koivisto, M. Joukamaa, A. Mattila, and R. K. R. Salokangas
The Depression Scale as a screening instrument for a subsequent depressive episode in primary healthcare patients
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
July 1, 2007;
191(1):
50 - 54.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. Nelson, L. Portera, and A. C. Leon
Assessment of outcome in depression
J Psychopharmacol,
July 1, 2006;
20(4_suppl):
47 - 53.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Johnson, D. B. Neal, C. Brems, and D. G. Fisher
Depression as Measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II Among Injecting Drug Users
Assessment,
June 1, 2006;
13(2):
168 - 177.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Lowe, I. Schenkel, C. Carney-Doebbeling, and C. Gobel
Responsiveness of the PHQ-9 to Psychopharmacological Depression Treatment
Psychosomatics,
February 1, 2006;
47(1):
62 - 67.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. CORRUBLE and P. HARDY
Why the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Endures
Am J Psychiatry,
December 1, 2005;
162(12):
2394 - 2394.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. S. McIntyre, J. Z. Konarski, D. A. Mancini, K. A. Fulton, S. V. Parikh, S. Grigoriadis, L. A. Grupp, D. Bakish, M.-J. Filteau, C. Gorman, et al.
Measuring the severity of depression and remission in primary care: validation of the HAMD-7 scale
Can. Med. Assoc. J.,
November 22, 2005;
173(11):
1327 - 1334.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Levin
Is End Near for Popular Assessment Tool?
Psychiatr News,
February 4, 2005;
40(3):
21 - 47.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
Get information about faster international access.
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2004
American Psychiatric Association.
All rights reserved.
Home
| Search
| Current Issue
| Past Issues
| Subscribe
| All APPI Journals
| Help
| Contact Us
|
