Diagnosis-specific rating instruments

4 DIAGNOSIS-SPECIFIC RATING INSTRUMENTS Depression Scales 

The two most widely used scales for the measurement of severity of depression are the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the 

Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS l (Hamilton. 1959 Montgomery and Asberg, 1979). 

The MADRS is a ten-item investigator-rated instrument for the assessment of depressive symptoms. It focuses on symptoms of sadness, lassitude, pessimistic thoughts and suicidality in contrast to the HRSD. no items are dedicated to the somatic aspects of depression. 

The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item self-rating scale to assess key symptoms of depression such as mood deterioration, pessimism, guilt, selfpunishment, self-dislike, self-accusations, suicidality, crying, irritability, social 

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