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 ) .
The nature of placebo response in clinical studies of major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE To review factors influencing placebo response and clinical trial outcome in depression , and suggest ways to optimize trial success in mood disorders . DATA SOURCES PubMed search es were conducted by cross-referencing the terms depression , depressive with placebo , clinical trial , and clinical trials for studies published in English between 1970 and September 2013 . STUDY SELECTION Relevant abstract s were identified in PubMed , including clinical trials , quantitative studies , and qualitative research . We obtained and review ed relevant articles and utilized their information to synthesize the present review . DATA EXTRACTION Included articles were grouped in the following areas of relevance : ( 1 ) biological validity of illness , ( 2 ) baseline severity of illness , ( 3 ) chronicity of the index episode of depression , ( 4 ) age of participants , ( 5 ) medical and psychiatric comorbidity , ( 6 ) probability of receiving placebo , ( 7 ) use of prospect i ve treatment phases ( lead-in ) ( 8) dosing schedule , ( 9 ) trial duration , ( 10 ) frequency of follow-up assessment s , and ( 11 ) study outcome measure . RESULTS Several key elements emerge as critical to the ultimate success of a clinical trial , including the probability of receiving placebo , study duration , dosing schedule , visit frequency , the use of blinded lead-in phases , the use of central ized raters , illness severity and duration , and comorbid anxiety . CONCLUSIONS Our increasing underst and ing of the placebo response in clinical trials of major depressive disorder lends to a , gradually , more predictable phenomenon and , hopefully , to one that becomes lesser in magnitude and variability . Several elements have emerged that seem to play a critical role in trial success , gradually reshaping the design of clinical , translational , as well as mechanistic studies in depression
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 ) .