title: Sensitivity and specificity of the Major Depression Inventory in outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Major Depression Inventory (MDI) is a new, brief, self-report measure for depression based on the DSM-system, which allows clinicians to assess the presence of a depressive disorder according to the DSM-IV, but also to assess the severity of the depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the sensitivity, specificity, and psychometric qualities of the MDI in a consecutive sample of 258 psychiatric outpatients. Of these patients, 120 had a mood disorder (70 major depression, 49 dysthymia). A total of 139 subjects had a comorbid axis-I diagnosis, and 91 subjects had a comorbid personality disorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crohnbach's alpha of the MDI was a satisfactory 0.89, and the correlation between the MDI and the depression subscale of the SCL-90 was 0.79 (p < .001). Subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD) had a significantly higher MDI score than subjects with anxiety disorders (but no MDD), dysthymias, bipolar, psychotic, other neurotic disorders, and subjects with relational problems. In ROC analysis we found that the area under the curve was 0.68 for the MDI. A good cut-off point for the MDI seems to be 26, with a sensitivity of 0.66, and a specificity of 0.63. The indication of the presence of MDD based on the MDI had a moderate agreement with the diagnosis made by a psychiatrist (kappa: 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MDI is an attractive, brief depression inventory, which seems to be a reliable tool for assessing depression in psychiatric outpatients.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.cuijpers@psy.vu.nl
authors: Pim
authors: P
authors: Cuijpers
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Dekker
authors: Annemieke
authors: A
authors: Noteboom
authors: Niels
authors: N
authors: Smits
authors: Jaap
authors: J
authors: Peen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
references: JAMA. 1999 Nov 10;282(18):1737-44
references: 10568646
references: J Affect Disord. 2001 Oct;66(2-3):159-64
references: 11578668
references: Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Sep 1;54(5):573-83
references: 12946886
references: BMC Psychiatry. 2003 Jan 29;3:2
references: 12556247
references: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2005 Mar;40(3):209-13
references: 15742226
references: J Pers Assess. 1996 Dec;67(3):588-97
references: 8991972
references: Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1961 Jun;4:561-71
references: 13688369
references: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1960 Feb;23:56-62
references: 14399272
references: Biometrics. 1977 Mar;33(1):159-74
references: 843571