title: The sufficiency of the HAM-D6 as an outcome instrument in the acute therapy of antidepressants in the outpatient setting.
abstract: Objective. To re-analyse the Spanish outpatient study on the various versions of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) by using item-response theory models for measuring unidimensionality. Methods. The Mokken analysis, based on the coefficient of homogeneity, was used. A coefficient of 0.40 or higher was accepted for unidimensionality. The three HAM-D versions were compared: HAM-D6 (core items of depression), HAM-D17 and HAM-D21. Results. In total, 113 of the 116 patients included in the study completed the planned treatment period of 6 weeks. As the Mokken analysis depends as much on the sample of patients under examination (dispersion of scores on the item) as on the scale itself, the endpoint was used. For HAM-D6, but not for HAM-D17 or HAM-D21, the coefficient of homogeneity was acceptable (0.44). Conclusion. The HAM-D6 is a valid version of the Hamilton Scale to be recommended for monitoring depressed patients in antidepressant therapy in the outpatient setting.
authors.affiliation: Area de Psiquiatria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bobes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulbena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dal-Re
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ibarra
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
keywords: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-6 (HAM-D6); acute treatment; depression; outcomes; outpatients; psychometric properties