A comparison of alternative assessments of depressive symptom severity: a pilot study

This study compared the performance of an itemized symptom self-report (Inv entory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self-Report; IDS-SR), patient global ratings, and clinician global ratings with an itemized clinician-rated symp tom severity measure (Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Clinician-Ra ted; IDS-C) in detecting treatment effects in patients with major depressiv e disorder (MDD). A total of 28 inpatients (30.8% psychotic) and 34 outpati ents (17.9% psychotic) with MDD began treatment that followed the Texas med ication algorithm. The clinicians completed the IDS-C and a Physician Globa l Rating Scale (PhGRS) at each assessment visit, while the patients complet ed the IDS-SR and a Patient Global Rating Scale (PtGRS). Change scores from the baseline to subsequent weeks were computed for all subjects, utilizing all four measures. The IDS-SR was a significant independent predictor of t he response to treatment as compared to the two global ratings. The IDS-SR was as sensitive to change as the IDS-C. While the clinician-rated itemized symptom severity rating scale remains the standard to assess the symptomat ic outcome of the treatment of MDD, a self-report of identical symptomatolo gy may be a reasonable alternative for many patients. (C) Published by Else vier Science Ireland Ltd.