Using a self-report depression scale to identify remission in depressed outpatients.

OBJECTIVE Some have suggested that standardized rating scales be used in clinical practice to monitor the course of treatment; however, the time demands of clinical practice make it difficult to use such measures. This study derived a cutoff on a self-report depression questionnaire corresponding to the most widely used definition of remission (a score < or =7 on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). METHOD Two hundred sixty-seven depressed outpatients were rated on the Hamilton depression scale and completed the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS). The authors used receiver operating curve analysis to examine the ability of the CUDOS to identify remission on the Hamilton depression scale. RESULTS A high level of agreement was found between the self-report and Hamilton depression scale assessments of remission. CONCLUSIONS Self-report questionnaires represent a practical option for thoroughly and objectively evaluating the course of treatment and determining remission in depressed patients.