Depressive symptoms in advanced cancer. Part 1. Assessing depression: the Mood Evaluation Questionnaire.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective cohort study evaluated the performance and acceptability of the cognitive based Mood Evaluation Questionnaire (MEQ) in assessing depressive symptoms over time in patients with advanced cancer. The structured clinical interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) and the single-item interview screening question were also administered.


METHODS
Forty-five advanced cancer patients were followed monthly for up to six interviews (108 interviews in total).


RESULTS
The MEQ and SCID had moderate agreement (weighted kappa 0.52 over all interviews). At first interview, 26 (58%) patients were depressed using MEQ, seven (16%) of these severely. Attrition rates were high for subsequent interviews. The assessment process was considered positive by 92% patients, and acceptable as a single and repeat measure. Positive responses to MEQ questions about worthlessness, death and self-harm were strong predictors of current depressed mood.


CONCLUSIONS
The MEQ has potential as a useful alternative to SCID in assessing depressive symptoms in a palliative care population, and can be used by nonpsychiatric trained professionals. It is positively received by patients and acceptable as a repeat measure. Most patients appreciate being asked about their mood in depth, including questions around death and self harm.
Department of Palliative Medicine, St Thomas' Hospital, London. martine.meyer@epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk
H A Martine
HA
Meyer
Claire
C
Sinnott
Paul T
PT
Seed
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires