Correlates of self-reported and clinically assessed depression in male heroin addicts

Used the Raskin Depression Scale, Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Profile of Mood States' Depression-dejection scale to measure depression in 152 male heroin addicts who were seeking methadone maintenance. To derive an estimate of depression that combined the former two instruments' clinical ratings and the latter two measures' self-reports, a principal component analysis was performed on the intercorrelations among the four scales. One significant component emerged, and its component scores then were correlated with some of the addicts' background characteristics. Living with another addict, being unemployed, and having previously attempted drug abuse treatment were related positively to the combined estimate of depression. The four scales, mean scores also indicated that the sample was mildly depressed.