title: Factorial structure and factor reliability of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
abstract: Identical principal components factor analyses of total Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores were conducted for two separate sub-samples (N = 183 and N = 182) drawn from the same clinic population of moderately depressed outpatients. A comparison of the two factor analyses revealed substantial agreement for four factors across the two sub-samples (i.e., four factors from the first sub-sample correlated at least 0.80 with a homologous dimension in the second sub-sample). The four factors were labelled Somatic Complaints, Anorexia, Sleep Disturbance, and Agitation/Retardation. Some additional factors emerged in the analysis of one sub-sample but failed to appear in the other. Overall, these results suggest that the HRS exhibited a relatively stable factorial structure based on a large sample of outpatients with unipolar depressive disorders. Methodological problems with earlier research are discussed in light of the current findings.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Department, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Glaudin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics