Computerized and Clinician Assessment of Depression and Anxiety: Respondent Evaluation and Satisfaction

Abstract

This investigation examined differences in subjects' satisfaction and reaction to computer- and clinician-administered versions of the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales in outpatients with affective disorders (n = 121), anxiety disorders (n = 52), other psychiatric disorders (n = 7), and adults without psychiatric disorders (n = 76). Subjects' reactions to clinician- and computer-administered interviews were similar in the areas of overall comfort level and ease in answering questions. Clinicians were rated more positively with regard to determining how subjects really felt, sensitivity to their needs, and asking questions specific to their feelings. Subjects felt less embarrassed giving information to the computer. We found psychiatric subjects to prefer the clinician-administered interview, whereas nonpsychiatric subjects indicated no preference.