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Published on: August 2, 2021
Is the 6-item, self-report HAM-D an effective depression screening measure with bipolar disorder?
Lotan Kraun1, Norm O'Rourke2, Yamima Osher3
1School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel.
Purpose:
Brief and effective screening measures are required to detect clinical depression in bipolar disorder (BD) patients. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the clinical utility of a six-item, self-report Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-6).
Design And Method:
Sixty BD outpatients completed questionnaires including the HAMD-6 before regular psychiatric appointments.
Findings:
A 7+ HAMD-6 cut-off score correctly identified six of eight depressed patients, indicating 75% sensitivity and 84% specificity.
Practice Implications:
The results of this study suggest the HAMD-6 is an effective depression screening measure with BD patients living in the community. This brief self-report scale can be used in clinical settings to quickly identify those requiring more thorough clinical attention.
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