Predicting response to treatment and discriminating bipolar and depression symptoms using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale

Preditor de resposta ao tratamento e discriminação de pacientes com depressão maior e transtorno bipolar pela Escala Hamilton de Depressão

ABSTRACT

Objective

The present study aims to compare the diagnostic ability of the HAMD 17 items with shorter versions of 7 and 6 items.

Methods

A total of 133 patients from a 6 month clinical trial diagnosed with mood disorders (60.2% with Major Depressive Disorder and 39.8% with bipolar type I disorder) were recruited.

Results

The 17 items HAMD scale showed similar results as compared with shorter versions. Furthermore, almost all patients’ diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder scored more compared to Bipolar Disorder, but the difference was not significant.

Conclusion

This study allows that the use of a shorter version of HAMD might be an adequate possibility, and also that depressive symptoms were similar among groups.

Depressive disorder; psychiatric status rating scales; psychometrics; follow-up studies