Speech pause time and the retardation rating scale for depression (ERD). Towards a reciprocal validation

Sixteen depressed inpatients were studied before the onset of treatment and within 48 h of discharge or of a change in medication. Patients' evaluation included clinical ratings with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Retardation Rating Scale for Depression (ERD), and measure of Speech Pause Time (SPT). The main results are a confirmation in French-speaking patients of Szabadi et al.'s and Greden et al.'s findings and the strong correlation between SPT changes and ERD score changes. The latter point constitutes a reciprocal validation of SPT and ERD.