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A validation analysis of two self‐reported HAM‐D 6 versions
Author(s) -
Bech P.,
Wilson P.,
Wessel T.,
Lunde M.,
Fava M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01289.x
Subject(s) - psychology , homogeneity (statistics) , clinical psychology , rating scale , item response theory , psychometrics , statistics , developmental psychology , mathematics
Objective: The six items of the clinician‐administrated Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM‐D 6 ) cover the core items of depressive states reflecting the antidepressive effect of medication. In this study, the two self‐reported versions of the HAM‐D 6 have been psychometrically validated to ensure the unidimensionality of this administration form in patients with mild‐to‐moderate depression. Method: The item response theory analysis of Mokken was used to test the unidimensionality of both the Interactive Voice Recording System (IVRS) version of the HAM‐D 6 and a paper‐and‐pencil self‐reported version (S‐HAM‐D 6 ). Patients with typical major depression and with seasonal affective disorder were included. Results: The Mokken analysis showed that the two self‐reported versions of the HAM‐D 6 obtained coefficients of homogeneity above 0.40, similar to the clinician‐rated HAM‐D 6 and thus implying unidimensionality. By contrast, the full HAM‐D 17 versions (self‐reported as well as clinician‐rated) obtained coefficients of homogeneity below 0.40, implying that the HAM‐D 17 is a multidimensional scale. Conclusion: The analysis show that both the IVRS version and the S‐HAM‐D 6 version are unidimensional self‐rating scales for the measurement of depressive states.