Use of the quality of well-being self-administered version (QWB-SA) in assessing health-related quality of life in depressed patients.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between depression severity and the Quality of Well-Being scale self-administered version (QWB-SA) in subjects diagnosed with current major depression.


METHODS
The research design was prospective and observational. Data were collected on a convenience sample of 58 subjects. Additional measures included the Quality of Well-Being scale interviewer-version (interviewer-QWB), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17), Beck Depression Inventory, and each were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, and 4 months postmedication treatment.


RESULTS
Cross-sectional and longitudinal QWB-SA scores were significantly correlated with depression severity and the interviewer-QWB. Treatment response, defined as 50% improvement in HRSD-17, was associated with 0.10 and 0.16 unit changes in the QWB-SA at 4 weeks and 4 months, respectively. The QWB-SA was significantly and negatively correlated with cross-sectional and longitudinal depression severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The study design was observational and used a convenience sample of subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The QWB-SA is less expensive to administer than the interviewer-QWB and is a useful alternative for determining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatments for depression relative to other physical and mental illness treatments.
Pyne
Jeffrey M
JM
Department of Psychiatry, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72114-1706, USA. pynejeffreym@uams.edu
Sieber
William J
WJ
David
Kristin
K
Kaplan
Robert M
RM
Hyman Rapaport
Mark
M
Keith Williams
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires