Measuring exercise-induced mood changes in fibromyalgia: a comparison of several measures.
OBJECTIVE
To compare scales measuring exercise-induced changes in mood.


METHODS
Mood changes in a randomized, 23-week controlled trial of exercise were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI). Effect sizes and t-tests were computed on 23-week change scores. Scales were deemed to be confounded if items addressed sleep disturbances, fatigue, or effort (symptoms of both mood disturbances and fibromyalgia).


RESULTS
Efficacy (15 exercise subjects) and intent-to-treat analyses (27 exercise subjects) generated medium effects for BDI (total, cognitive), MHI depression (efficacy only), and CES-D (intent-to-treat only) scales. BDI (total, cognitive), MHI (depression, positive affect, total [MHI-5]), and STAI scales distinguished exercise from control subjects at 23 weeks in all analyses. BDI somatic and CES-D scales were deemed to be confounded.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the BDI cognitive, STAI, and MHI-5 scales to measure depression, anxiety, and general mood, respectively, in patients with fibromyalgia.
Gowans
S E
SE
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. sue.gowans@uhn.on.ca
DeHueck
A
A
Abbey
S E
SE
D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*