Conclusions : According to the published literature , the clinimetric properties of HAM-D6 are superior to those of both the HAM-D17 and MADRS .
Background : In a study aim ed at identifying the items carrying information regarding the global severity of depression , the 6-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HAM-D6 ) was derived from the original 17-item version of the scale ( HAM-D17 ) .
Since then , the HAM-D6 has been used in a wide range of clinical studies .
We now provide a systematic review of the clinimetric properties of HAM-D6 in comparison with those of HAM-D17 and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) .
An examination of the sensitivity of the six-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression in a sample of patients suffering from major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVES To compare the sensitivity of the 6-item  Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression  ( HRSD6 ) with the more widely used 17-item  Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression  ( HRSD17 ) in patients suffering from major depressive disorder , with or without melancholia and /or dysthymic disorder . A secondary objective was to compare the sensitivity of the HRSD6 to the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) . DESIGN Retrospective analysis of 4 clinical trials that tested antidepressant therapies . SETTING Outpatient treatment in a major psychiatric hospital . PARTICIPANTS One hundred and forty-three male and female out patients meeting the criteria of the DSM-III-R or DSM-IV for major depressive disorder . OUTCOME MEASURES HRSD17 , HRSD6 and MADRS . RESULTS The HRSD6 correlated strongly with the HRSD17 , both at baseline and termination of treatment , and for the subgroups of double depression and melancholia . The HRSD6 was also correlated significantly with the MADRS at both measurement times , and for the subgroups . Paired t-tests with the HRSD6 , HRSD17 and MADRS demonstrated equal sensitivity to change over the course of treatment , both in the full sample and in the dysthymic and melancholic subgroups . CONCLUSIONS The HRSD6 appears to be as sensitive to change over treatment as the HRSD17 and the MADRS . A shorter , less time-consuming measure of depression may have utility in clinical practice and research
Conclusions : According to the published literature , the clinimetric properties of HAM-D6 are superior to those of both the HAM-D17 and MADRS .
Background : In a study aim ed at identifying the items carrying information regarding the global severity of depression , the 6-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HAM-D6 ) was derived from the original 17-item version of the scale ( HAM-D17 ) .
Since then , the HAM-D6 has been used in a wide range of clinical studies .
We now provide a systematic review of the clinimetric properties of HAM-D6 in comparison with those of HAM-D17 and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) .