Assessing clinical significance: Application to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

Abstract

Tingey et al.'s (1995) extensions and clarification of Jacobson, Follette & Revenstorf's (1984) methods for evaluating clinically significant change were applied to the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD; Guy, 1976; Hamilton, 1967). A four sample normative continuum was constructed. The continuum of normative groups (asymptomatic, general population, outpatient, and inpatient) was gathered from the community and the existing literature. The distinctness of the normative samples was assessed. The results yielded cut-off scores that provide a standard for defining clinically significant change. The implications for evaluation of treatment programs are discussed.