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Assessing dimensional and categorical aspects of depression Validation of the AMDP Depression Scale

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Abstract

Background

A new observer depression scale which is based on the descriptive operationalized classification principles of ICD–10 is introduced. The AMDP Depression Scale (AMDP–DS), a 22–item clinician–rated inventory, provides the opportunity of dimensional as well as categorical depression severity assessment.

Methods

A sample of 50 patients with depressive symptoms were assessed with the AMDP–DS by two raters in a joint rater session. A number of widely used depression scales were applied separately by an independent rater. The ICD–10 symptom checklist was used for categorical assessment of depressive disorders.

Results

The inter–rater reliability for the total score of the AMDP–DS was excellent (Intraclass coefficient: 0.97). There were high correlations with the sum scores of the other scales under study. The correlations between the ICD–10 symptom–checklist and the AMDP–DS ranged from 0.75 to 0.89 for the total sample and 0.44 to 0.51 for patients with acute depressive episode.

Limitations

The results are limited by the method of a joint rater setting and the relatively small subsample of patients with depressive episode.

Conclusions

The AMDP–DS satisfies the requirements of psychometric criteria with a sufficient degree. A new depression scale designed to cover dimensional as well as categorical aspects has successfully been developed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany

    E. Lauterbach MD, H.-J. Rumpf, B. Ahrens, H.-J. Haug, R. Schaub, H. Schönell, R.-D. Stieglitz & F. Hohagen

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  1. E. Lauterbach MD
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  2. H.-J. Rumpf
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  3. B. Ahrens
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  4. H.-J. Haug
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  5. R. Schaub
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  6. H. Schönell
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  7. R.-D. Stieglitz
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  8. F. Hohagen
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Correspondence to E. Lauterbach MD.

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Lauterbach, E., Rumpf, HJ., Ahrens, B. et al. Assessing dimensional and categorical aspects of depression Validation of the AMDP Depression Scale. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 255, 15–19 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0529-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-004-0529-7

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