J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2009 Jan;48(1):21-28.

The Factor Structure of the Korean Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(K-HDRS): A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

• Park HW
• Lee EH
• Kim DK
• Yu BH
• Lee DS
• Kim JH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The present study was conducted to examine the factor structure of a Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS), and we did so by performing a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
METHODS
The data from the 17-item K-HDRS data was obtained from 319 South Koreans who met the DSM-IV Criteria of Major Depressive Disorder. We examined the fit of ten competing models. The CFAs were evaluated in their original first-order structures and in their hierarchically related counterparts.
RESULTS
The alternative models obtained unsatisfactory fit indices, although the five-factor intercorrelated model (model 5a) demonstrated a relatively good fit to the data. The model 5a also performed better than its hierarchically related counterpart (model 5b). The Modification Indices (MIs) were used to provide a more satisfactory account of the data. The MIs suggested correlations between the unique variances of items (item 1 & 3, item 10 & 15), and these parameters were added to the model 5a. After introducing minor modifications, the 'final' model (5m) yielded an improved model fit.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the symptoms of depression, as assessed by the K-HDRS, cluster into five factors: anhedonia/retardation, guilt/agitation, bodily symptoms, insomnia and appetite. This study provides evidence for the cross-cultural generalizability of the HDRS, although some refinement of the scale is still required.

Keyword

Confirmatory factor analysis; Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; Depression

MeSH Terms

Appetite
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders