Diagnóstico clínico y psicométrico de la depresión en pacientes de medicina general

Abstract

The Hamilton scale, applied by an external evaluator and the self rating Beck inventory for depression, can give discrepant results in psychiatric patients with depression.To compare depression scores obtained with the Hamilton scale and the Beck inventory in general medical patients.Patients attending an outpatient clinic of a University Hospital were studied. Clinical psychiatric diagnoses were based on DSM-III. Hamilton scale was applied to 100 patients and 80 answered the Beck depression inventory.Patients with major depression obtained the higher scores with both scales. However, Beck inventory had false positive and false negative results. Moreover, some patients overstated their depressive symptoms.Self assessment of depression can be distorted by anxiety and somatic symptoms.