An evaluation of the quick inventory of depressive symptomatology and the hamilton rating scale for depression: a sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression trial report

Abstract

Background: Nine DSM-IV-TR criterion symptom domains are evaluated to diagnose major depressive disorder (MDD). The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS) provides an efficient assessment of these domains and is available as a clinician rating (QIDS-C16), a self-report (QIDS-SR16), and in an automated, interactive voice response (IVR) (QIDS-IVR16) telephone system. This report compares the performance of these three versions of the QIDS and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD17).

Methods: Data were acquired at baseline and exit from the first treatment step (citalopram) in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial. Outpatients with nonpsychotic MDD who completed all four ratings within +/-2 days were identified from the first 1500 STAR*D subjects. Both item response theory and classical test theory analyses were conducted.

Results: The three methods for obtaining QIDS data produced consistent findings regarding relationships between the nine symptom domains and overall depression, demonstrating interchangeability among the three methods. The HRSD17, while generally satisfactory, rarely utilized the full range of item scores, and evidence suggested multidimensional measurement properties.

Conclusions: In nonpsychotic MDD outpatients without overt cognitive impairment, clinician assessment of depression severity using either the QIDS-C16 or HRSD17 may be successfully replaced by either the self-report or IVR version of the QIDS.

Figures

Figure 1

QIDS16 domain means as a function of method of administration (clinical, self-report, and IVR). QIDS16, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.

Figure 2

QIDS16 domain/total correlations (rit) as a function of method of administration (clinical, self-report, and IVR). QIDS16, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.

Figure 3

Scree plots for the QIDS-C16, QIDS-SR16, QIDS-IVR16, and HRSD17. QIDS-C16, 16-item Clinician-Rated Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology; QIDS-SR16, 16-item Self-Report Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology; QIDS-IVR16, 16-item Interactive Voice Response Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology; HRSD17, 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

Figure 4

QIDS16 Samejima slope parameter estimates as a function of method of administration (clinical, self-report, and IVR). QIDS16, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.

Figure 5

QIDS16 b0 location parameter estimates separating 0 responses from responses greater than 0 as a function of method of administration (clinical, self-report, and IVR). QIDS16, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.

Figure 6

QIDS16 b1 location parameter estimates separating 0 and 1 responses from 2 and 3 responses greater than 0 as a function of method of administration (clinical, self-report, and IVR). QIDS16, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.

Figure 7

QIDS16 b2 location parameter estimates separating 0, 1, and 2 responses from 3 responses as a function of method of administration (clinical, self-report, and IVR). QIDS16, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology.