title: Not as golden as standards should be: interpretation of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) is one of the most frequently used instruments in antidepressant trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined different recommendations for classification of subjects according to depression severity by the HRSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several differences between recommendations were identified leading to the conclusion that a consensus on interpretation is largely missing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brief narrative review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Widely accepted standards for the interpretation of scores on the HRSD are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Martinistr. 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany. l.kriston@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kriston
authors.forename: Alessa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Wolff
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents