Validity of orally administered Beck and Zung Depression Scales in a state hospital setting

Thirty-six consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients were orally administered the Beck and Zung depression scales. Wide Range Achievement Test reading scores also were obtained. The Beck and Zung correlated significantly (p .001) with Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980) depression criteria. When the patients were subdivided by diagnosis (Depression and mixed Depression vs. others), and depression scores compared, only the Zung significantly differentiated the two groups (F = 12.51, p less than .001). When subdivided by reading scores, both high (grade level M = 8.7) and low (grade level M = 3.2) groups' Beck and Zung scores correlated equally well with the DSM-III criteria measure. This study substantiates the common practice of orally presenting written tests to low functioning patients most convincingly in the case of the Zung Depression Scale.