title: Sensitivity and specificity of the mood disorder questionnaire and the bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale in Argentinean patients with mood disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the sensitivity and specificity of two self-report instruments for detection of bipolarity in a sample of Argentinean patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spanish versions of the MDQ and the BSDS were administered over four months at 11 sites in Argentina. Diagnoses were made using DSM-IV criteria and the MINI. The study sample consisted of patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (BD) Types I, II, or NOS. BDNOS diagnoses were made using extended guidelines for bipolar spectrum symptoms. Unipolar patients were used as a control group. Of 493 patients screened, 354 completed evaluation by MDQ and MINI, and 363 by BSDS and MINI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specificity of MDQ was 0.97 and BSDS was 0.81. MDQ sensitivity was 0.70 for bipolar type I (BD-I), 0.52 for bipolar II (BD-II) and 0.31 for bipolar not otherwise specified (BDNOS). BSDS sensitivities were 0.75, 0.70 and 0.51 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was performed in specialized outpatient settings and thus its results are not necessarily representative for other clinical settings. There was not a systematic evaluation of comorbid psychiatric disease or test-retest reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The local versions of the MDQ and the BSDS showed a sensitivity and specificity comparable to previous research. Our results indicate that in this sample, MDQ was more specific for BD and BSDS was more sensitive to detect BD-II and NOS. Since BD-I is more readily recognized than bipolar spectrum disorders, enhanced sensitivity of BSDS for soft bipolarity may be an advantage.
authors: Psinapsys Private Psychiatric Center, La Plata, Argentina. rzaratie@gmail.com
authors: Rodolfo M
authors: RM
authors: Zaratiegui
authors: Gustavo H
authors: GH
authors: Vázquez
authors: Laura S
authors: LS
authors: Lorenzo
authors: Marcia
authors: M
authors: Marinelli
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Aguayo
authors: Sergio A
authors: SA
authors: Strejilevich
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Padilla
authors: Aníbal
authors: A
authors: Goldchluk
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Herbst
authors: Juan J
authors: JJ
authors: Vilapriño
authors: Gerardo García
authors: GG
authors: Bonetto
authors: Marcelo G
authors: MG
authors: Cetkovich-Bakmas
authors: Estela
authors: E
authors: Abraham
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Kahn
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Whitham
authors: Niki S
authors: NS
authors: Holtzman
authors: Nassir
authors: N
authors: Ghaemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014894:Weights and Measures