The relationship of demographic, clinical, cognitive and personality variables to the discrepancy between self and clinician rated depression.
BACKGROUND
The measurement of depression severity is an important aspect of both clinical and research practices. However, studies examining the self-report Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the clinician Hamilton Depression Rating Scale indicate only moderate correlations. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between two self-report measures, the revised BDI, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist with the clinician rated, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The secondary aim was to investigate patient factors which contribute to discordant ratings.


METHODS
Depression severity and demographic, clinical, personality, cognitive, and personality factors that may contribute to a self-report-clinician rated discrepancy were examined in 177 adult outpatients with a Major Depressive Episode (DSM-IV) participating in a randomised clinical trial comparing CBT and IPT for depression. All assessment was conducted prior to treatment randomisation.


RESULTS
Self-report and clinician rated depression were moderately correlated. Individuals with higher clinician rated depression severity, increased levels of rumination and females were more likely to have higher self-report rated depression (BDI-II and SCL-90) than clinician rated depression. In addition, younger patients and those with melancholic depression had higher BDI-II compared to MADRS scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Results require replication.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported and observer rated depression were only moderately correlated. Researchers and clinicians interpreting the level of depression need to be cognizant of the patient factors that may contribute to either underreporting or overreporting self-report scores relative to observer ratings.
Carter
Janet D
JD
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. janet.carter@canterbury.ac.nz
Frampton
Christopher M
CM
Mulder
Roger T
RT
Luty
Suzanne E
SE
Joyce
Peter R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D002605:Character; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D013694:Temperament