title: Development and validation of a screening scale for depression in Korea: the Lee and Rhee Depression Scale.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop a culturally sensitive instrument that addressed how individuals express and experience depression to detect this disorder in Koreans. We also assessed the validity, reliability, and diagnostic utility of this scale (Lee and Rhee Depression Scale; LRDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 3,697 normal adults selected from 12 administrative districts (Do) and 448 Korean patients diagnosed with depression using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I). Reliability was calculated using Cronbach's α. Construct validity, discriminant validity, and concurrent validity were also measured. Receiver-operator-characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to evaluate diagnostic efficiency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LRDS was found to be a reliable instrument (Cronbach's α=0.95) consisting of six factors: negative thinking about the future, negative thinking about the self, worry and agitation, depressed mood, somatization, and loss of volition. Comparison of LRDS scores discriminated the group of patients with depression from the normal individuals in the control group. The measure showed good concurrent validity in that scores were significantly and strongly correlated with scores on established scales such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and the D scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-second edition (MMPI-2). Diagnostic efficiency was 77.7%, and the cut-off scores were 65 for males and 70 for females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first study to develop a depression-screening scale on the basis of Korean patients' complaints about the disorder. As a culturally sensitive tool, the LRDS will be useful in clinical and research settings in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Min Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Rhee Hun
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hwa Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Young Sun
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee