Reliability and validity of the Hamilton Depression Inventory: A paper-and-pencil version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Clinical Interview.

Abstract

A self-report, paper-and-pencil version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS ; M. Hamilton, 1960) was developed. This measure, the Hamilton Depression Inventory (HDI ; W. M. Reynolds & K. A. Kobak, 1995) consists of a 23-item full form, a 17-item form, and a 9-item short form. The 17-item HDI form corresponds in content and scoring to the standard 17-item HDRS. With a sample of psychiatric outpatients with major depression (n = 140 anxiety disorders (n = 99), and nonreferred community adults (n = 118), the HDI forms demonstrated high levels of reliability ( r α =.91 to.94, r tt =.95 to.96). Extensive validity evidence was presented, including content, criterion-related, construct, and clinical efficacy of the HDI cutoff score. Overall, the data support the reliability and validity of the HDI as a self-report measure of severity of depression.