An examination of 26,168 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores administered via interactive voice response across...

This article presents descriptive and psychometric data from 26,168 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores administered via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) in 17 randomized clinical trials sponsored by 6 pharmaceutical companies. To provide evidence for construct validity, the IVR HAM-D scores before and after randomization are compared, and the change in the IVR HAM-D scores over time after randomization are examined. In addition, the evidence for the reliability of the IVR-administered HAM-D is presented. An examination of the distribution of first-time IVR HAM-Ds before randomization may provide useful information to researchers planning to use the IVR HAM-D as a screening tool for entry or to verify baseline severity in randomized clinical trials.