A visual analogue scale companion for the six‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Abstract

Objective

The six‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD6) is a clinician rated measure which lacks a self‐report companion. We explored whether a six‐item client rated visual analogue scale (VAS6) based on the HAMD6, was a consistent and valid measure of depression and useful for clinical practice.

Method

Participants were N = 117 participants, 88 (75%) female, with major depressive disorder (MDD) who received transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Pre‐ and post‐treatment a trained clinician completed the HAMD6 and Clinical Global Impression Scale for Severity (CGI‐S), and patients the self‐reported VAS6.

Results

VAS6 internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha was 0.87. VAS6‐HAMD6/GGI‐S spearman correlations were moderate‐strong for four items (depressed mood; work/activities; feelings of guilt; anxiety) and the total score and weak for two items (somatic symptoms, retardation).

Conclusions

The self‐reported VAS6 was a valid measure of core aspects of depression measured by the HAMD6. It is cost effective (takes relatively little clinician time) and is a useful companion to the clinician reported HAMD6.

Key words:

• depression
• Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
• psychometric
• transcranial magnetic stimulation
• visual analogue scale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are most grateful to our colleagues Sheila Erger, Marzena Rybak, Renee Morey, Yvonne Turnier‐Shea, Fiona Lawson, Erin Kelly at the Saint Helen's Private Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, who cared for the patients, provided treatment and collected and documented results carefully and expertly.