Conceptual Basis
The CRS closely follows the item content of the HRSD (1). The major difference between the HRSD and most of the self-rating scales lies in its coverage of somatic and behavioral symptoms of depression. To avoid falsely classifying physical illness as symptomatic of depression, most self-rating scales focus on subjective thoughts and feelings, leaving physical symptoms to a clinician to elicit through clinical examination. However, because feelings may indicate general malaise rather than specifically depression, a self-rating scale oriented toward the behavioral and somatic features of depression may be advantageous (2).