A DEFINITE AND A SEMIDEFINITE QUESTIONNAIRE VERSION OF THE HAMILTON MELANCHOLIA (HDS MES) SCALE/

A definite (anchored) and a semidefinite (semi-anchored) questionnaire version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDS) and the Bech-Ra faelsen Melancholia Scale (MES) were compared with the HDS/MES by obse rver-rating and self-rating of 24 patients fulfilling the DSM-3R crite ria for major depressive disorder. Both types of questionnaire showed substantial agreement with the observer scale from which they were der ived. The sum scores were for the definite questionnaires and the corr esponding observer scales closely similar whereas the sum scores of th e semidefinite questionnaires were significantly higher than the sum s cores of the corresponding observer scales. These results indicate tha t patients 'halo' effect may be avoided by using definite scaling crit eria for self-rating. Thus, of the two versions of questionnaires the definite versions are recommended.