Comparative validity of two measures of psychomotor function in patients with severe depression.
Psychomotor function is a key construct in depressed patients and two measures have been developed for systematic rating. Parker and colleagues utilise an observer-rated scale (CORE) while the scale (DRRS) developed by Widlöcher assesses motor and ideational aspects. Association between the scales and their relative capacity to predict ECT response were investigated in a sample of 81 depressed patients. Both predicted ECT response. While the CORE scale rates a wider variety of phenomena (including non-interactiveness and agitation) and does not rely on the subject's capacity to report aspects of their cognitive function, the study supports the predictive and comparitive validity of both scales.
Hickie
I
I
Academic Department of Psychiatry, St. George Hospital and Community Service, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Mason
C
C
Parker
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016896:Treatment Outcome