Abstract
Purpose
Brief and effective screening measures are required to detect clinical depression in bipolar disorder (BD) patients. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the clinical utility of a six‐item, self‐report Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD‐6).
Design and Method
Sixty BD outpatients completed questionnaires including the HAMD‐6 before regular psychiatric appointments.
Findings
A 7+ HAMD‐6 cut‐off score correctly identified six of eight depressed patients, indicating 75% sensitivity and 84% specificity.
Practice Implications
The results of this study suggest the HAMD‐6 is an effective depression screening measure with BD patients living in the community. This brief self‐report scale can be used in clinical settings to quickly identify those requiring more thorough clinical attention.