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Validity of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

John T. Biggs
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri, USA 63110
Laurence T. Wylie
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri, USA 63110
Vincent E. Ziegler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 4940 Audubon Avenue, St Louis, Missouri, USA 63110

Summary

The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) correlated well (0·69) with the treating physician's global rating in 26 depressed out-patients during the six weeks of treatment with a tricyclic antidepressant. In a larger sample of 41 patients, a high correlation was found between the ZSDS and the Hamilton Rating Scale. The sensitivity of the ZSDS was found to be adequate. The scale was able to differentiate, at the 0·05 level, four severity groups classified on the basis of the global rating. The importance of the direct relationship between the range of severity studied and the value of the correlation coefficient was discussed. Previous investigations and the results of this study indicate that the ZSDS is a valid and sensitive measure of clinical severity in depressed patients and support its continued use as a research instrument.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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