Discrepancies between self- and clinician-rated depressive symptoms in psychiatric inpatients: Associations with treatment stage, age, sex and depression severity

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The self-rated Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the clinician-rated Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are widely used to evaluate depressive symptoms in individuals with mental disorders. This study investigated the relationship between BDI-II and MADRS, examining the moderating roles of treatment stage, age, sex, and depression severity in an inpatient cohort diagnosed with major depression. METHODS: A total of 178 adult psychiatric inpatients with moderate to severe depression were assessed at admission and discharge using BDI-II and MADRS. Pearson correlations evaluated the relationship between the scales, Fisher's Z-tests examined changes over time, and moderation analyses and analyses of covariance assessed the role of treatment stage, age, sex, and depression severity. RESULTS: = 0.04, p = .010). DISCUSSION: Our findings reveal that concordance between self-reported and clinician-rated depressive symptoms improves throughout treatment, particularly in subgroups defined by age and sex. The overall association appears consistent. Clinicians should employ both rating perspectives to ensure an individualized understanding of treatment response.

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders

DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.121052

Institution: Medical University of Graz

Language: English

Topic: Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,790

OpenAlex ID: W7117115183