Depression and the existential domain in the assessment of quality of life in HIV outpatients with the McGill questionnaire.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to further test criterion validity and factorial validity of the McGIll Quality Of Life (MQOL) questionnaire, and to assess its reliability and sensitivity to clinical change in outpatients with HIV infection.


METHODS
The authors present a longitudinal study on a consecutive sample of 216 adults treated with HAART at the outpatient facility of an hospital-based tertiary care center in Italy. Patients completed the MQOL and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) both at baseline and follow-up assessments. Patients were classified into subgroups (improved, unchanged, worsened) based on change in BDI scores or CD4 count over time.


RESULTS
The pattern of correlation between MQOL subscales and the BDI was as hypothesised. A fairly simple factor structure emerged, with a striking resemblance between the factors and the MQOL subscales. The internal consistency of the MQOL and its subscales was high. The test-retest reliability in clinically unchanged patients was satisfactory. Sensitivity to change, as measured by Guyatt responsiveness statistic, was also satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
This study contributed to building evidence of reliability and validity for the MQOL questionnaire, which may be particularly useful to assess the so-called "existential" aspects of QOL that are particularly relevant for patients infected with HIV.
Leombruni
P
P
Psychiatry Section, Neuroscience Department, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Picardi
A
A
Lavagnino
L
L
Orofino
G C
GC
Caramello
P
P
Morosini
P
P
Fassino
S
S
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome