Factorial structure and factor reliability of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

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Abstract
Identical principal components factor analyses of total Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores were conducted for two separate sub‐samples (N = 183 and N = 182) drawn from the same clinic population of moderately depressed outpatients. A comparison of the two factor analyses revealed substantial agreement for four factors across the two sub‐samples (i.e., four factors from the first sub‐sample correlated at least 0.80 with a homologous dimension in the second sub‐sample). The four factors were labelled Somatic Complaints, Anorexia, Sleep Disturbance, and Agitation/Retardation. Some additional factors emerged in the analysis of one sub‐sample but failed to appear in the other. Overall, these results suggest that the HRS exhibited a relatively stable factorial structure based on a large sample of outpatients with unipolar depressive disorders. Methodological problems with earlier research are discussed in light of the current findings.

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