Depression measures in outcomes research

Objective: To review critically the measures used to screen for depression for disability outcomes research and to recommend measures and needed resea rch. Date Sources: Review of literature pertaining to the development, testing, and use of depression measures for outcomes research. Study Selection: English language literature from scientists from a broad r ange of disciplines and research settings, focusing mainly on the Brief Sym ptom Inventory and the Center for Epidemiology Study-Depression scale. Data Extraction: A. literature review was completed through MEDLINE. Based on the review, instruments were selected according to their use among peopl e with disability and the reliability and validity of the instrument. Two i nstruments were selected for a complete review, and 5 instruments were sele cted for a brief review. Data Synthesis: A critical review of measures that have been and may be use d to measure depressive symptomatology among people with disability. Conclusions: Screening measures of depression are easy to administer and sc ore. Almost all have low respondent burden and good face validity, thereby contributing to a high participation rate for most studies. Some problems e xist with the application of these instruments to people with disability ti e, overlap of symptoms of depression and indicators of physical impairment) .