Definition
The Raskin Rating Scale is a brief, observer-rated scale used to identify and measure change in depressive symptoms. Ratings are made on 5-point scales, covering three domains: verbal report, behavior, and secondary symptoms, with examples from each category provided (e.g., under “verbal report” examples include: feels blue, talks of feeling helpless or worthless, complains of loss of interest).
Current Knowledge
The RDRS was developed with the aim of measuring treatment-related changes in depression. It is a brief measure, and there is evidence that it has good sensitivity (e.g., Harris, Huckle, Thomas, Johns, & Fung, 1989), but it is also reported to have poor specificity, and is perhaps best used in conjunction with more specific measures. Dew, Switzer, Myaskovsky, DiMartini, and Tovt-Korshynska (2005) state that, in common with other rating scales for depression, its psychometric properties have not been well-documented, though there are indications...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Readings
Dew, M. A., Switzer, G. E., Myaskovsky, L., DiMartini, A. F., & Tovt-Korshynska, M. I. (2005). Rating scales for mood disorders. In D. J. Stein, D. J. Kupfer, & A. F. Schatzberg (Eds.), Textbook of mood disorders (pp. 69–100). Washington DC: The American Psychiatric Publishing.
Harris, B., Huckle, P., Thomas, R., Johns, S., & Fung, H. (1989). The use of rating scales to identify post-natal depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 813–817.
Raskin, A., Schulterbrandt, J., Reatig, N., & McKeon, J. J. (1969). Replication of factors of psychopathology in interview, ward behavior and self-report ratings of hospitalized depressives. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disorders, 148(1), 87–98.
Snaith, R. P. (1987). The concepts of mild depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 387–393.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Fish, J. (2011). Raskin Rating Scale. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1960
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1960
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-79947-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79948-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science