Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The primary outcome measure of the study was the Montgomery– A˚sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).24 It consists of 10 items and the total score can vary from 0 to 60. The MADRS has high joint reliability, its sensitivity to change has been shown in several studies and its predictive validity for major depressive disorder has been demonstrated.25
Secondary outcomes
The secondary outcome measures administered were the anxiety part of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS–A),26 Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF),27,28 the health-related quality of life survey RAND–3629 for measuring quality of life, and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS–20)30 for evaluating alexithymia. The measures of general functioning and quality of life were chosen on the basis of their wide use in studies of psychological interventions for people with mental health