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Harvard National Depression Screening Scale
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About Harvard National Depression Screening Scale
Scale Name
Harvard National Depression Screening Scale
Author Details
Lee Baer, Douglas G. Jacobs, Jodi Meszler-Reizes, Mark Blais, Maurizio Fava, Ronald Kessler, Kathryn Magruder, Jane Murphy, Barbara Kopans, Pam Cukor, Laurie Leahy, and John O’Laughlen
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Harvard National Depression Screening Scale (HANDS), developed by Lee Baer and a team of collaborators in 2000, is a concise self-report tool designed to screen for depression in the general population. Published in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, the HANDS was created as part of the National Depression Screening Day initiative to provide a brief, accessible instrument that identifies individuals at risk for major depression or dysthymia, encouraging early intervention. It balances simplicity with clinical relevance, making it ideal for community settings, primary care, and large-scale mental health screenings.
The HANDS consists of 10 items, rated on a 4-point scale (0 = “none of the time” to 3 = “all of the time”), assessing depressive symptoms like sadness, hopelessness, and fatigue over the past two weeks. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with a cutoff of 9 or higher suggesting possible depression warranting further evaluation. Taking just 5-10 minutes to complete, the HANDS is user-friendly and efficient, requiring no clinical training for administration. Its translations into key languages and endorsement by Harvard-affiliated researchers enhance its credibility and utility in public health efforts to detect undiagnosed depression.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the copy: Access the HANDS from its original publication in Baer et al. (2000) via Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics or authorized screening resources, ensuring ethical use.
- Explain the purpose: Inform participants that the scale screens for depressive symptoms to identify potential depression and guide next steps for care or research.
- Provide instructions: Instruct participants to rate each of the 10 items based on how often they felt that way over the past two weeks, using the 4-point scale, and encourage honesty.
- Approximate time: Allow approximately 5-10 minutes for completion, depending on the participant’s reading speed and reflection time.
- Administer the scale: Distribute the HANDS in a quiet, private setting, via paper or digital format, ensuring confidentiality to promote accurate self-reporting.
Reliability and Validity
The Harvard National Depression Screening Scale exhibits strong psychometric properties, as established in Baer et al. (2000). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.91, indicating reliable measurement of depressive symptoms. Test-retest reliability over a one-week period yields coefficients around 0.85, reflecting stability in stable populations.
Validity is well-supported. Concurrent validity is shown through strong correlations (r = 0.80-0.85) with the Beck Depression Inventory and DSM-IV-based diagnostic interviews. Sensitivity and specificity at the cutoff of 9 are 95% and 94%, respectively, making it an effective screening tool for identifying depression. Content validity aligns with core depressive symptoms, and its predictive validity is evidenced by its ability to flag individuals needing clinical follow-up, enhancing its utility in non-clinical settings.
Available Versions
10-Items
Reference
Baer, L., Jacobs, D. G., Meszler-Reizes, J., Blais, M., Fava, M., Kessler, R., … & O’Laughlen, J. (2000). Development of a brief screening instrument: the HANDS. Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 69(1), 35-41.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the HANDS measure?
It screens for depressive symptoms in the general population.
How many items are in the HANDS?
It includes 10 items scored from 0 to 3.
Who developed the HANDS?
It was developed by Lee Baer and team in 2000.
How long does it take to complete the HANDS?
It takes about 5-10 minutes.
What is the HANDS cutoff score?
A score of 9 or higher suggests possible depression.
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