The Brief Depression Scale - reliability and validity of a new self-ratingdepression scale

A new, ten-item, self-rated depression scale, the Brief Depression Scale (B DS), was validated in 275 psychiatric in-patients and out-patients with dep ressive illness and anxiety disorders and a non-clinical sample of 50 subje cts. The BDS showed satisfactory convergence with the interview-rated Montg omery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (r(s) = 0.72 and p < 0.001) and Hamilt on Depression Rating Scales (r(s) = 0.70 and p < 0.001) and with the depres sion subscale of the self-rated Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (r(s) = 0.89 and P < 0.0001). The BDS had satisfactory internal consistency with a Cronbach's a-value of 0.86. The construct validity of the scale was asse ssed by principal components analysis and a two-factor solution was found i n the clinical sample which explained 54% of the variance in the BDS total score. The sensitivity of the scale to clinical change in patients treated over an 8 week period was found to be satisfactory las judged by the biseri al correlation coefficient of change in BDS score with changes in other dep ression measures). The BDS had a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 90% at a cut-off score of 19. The BDS is a brief, reliable and valid measure wh ich may be useful in primary and secondary care settings as both a screenin g and outcome measure for depression. Primary Care Psychiatry 2000; 6:111-1 18, Copyright (C) 2000 by LibraPharm Limited.