title: Psychometric properties of responses by clinicians and older adults to a 6-item Hebrew version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D6).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) is commonly used as a screening instrument, as a continuous measure of change in depressive symptoms over time, and as a means to compare the relative efficacy of treatments. Among several abridged versions, the 6-item HAM-D6 is used most widely in large degree because of its good psychometric properties. The current study compares both self-report and clinician-rated versions of the Hebrew version of this scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 153 Israelis 75 years of age on average participated in this study. The HAM-D(6) was examined using confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) models separately for both patient and clinician responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses to the HAM-D(6) suggest that this instrument measures a unidimensional construct with each of the scales' six items contributing significantly to the measurement. Comparisons between self-report and clinician versions indicate that responses do not significantly differ for 4 of the 6 items. Moreover, 100% sensitivity (and 91% specificity) was found between patient HAM-D6 responses and clinician diagnoses of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the Hebrew HAM-D(6) can be used to measure and screen for depressive symptoms among elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and the Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. Bachner@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Yaacov G
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Bachner
authors.forename: Norm
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: Margalit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldfracht
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: Liat
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayalon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014175:Translating