title: How do you feel? Detection of recurrent Major Depressive Disorder using a single-item screening tool.
abstract: Mood is a key element of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), and is perceived as a highly dynamic construct. The aim of the current study was to examine whether a single-item mood scale can be used for mood monitoring. One hundred thirty remitted out-patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I Disorders (SCID-I), Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), and Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (IDS-SR). Of all patients, 13.8% relapsed during follow-up assessments. Area under the curves (AUCs) for the VAMS, HAM-D17 and IDS-SR were 0.94, 0.91, and, 0.86, respectively. The VAMS had the highest positive predictive value (PPV) without any false negatives at score 55 (PPV=0.53; NPV=1.0) and was the best predictor of current relapse status (variance explained for VAMS: 60%; for HAM-D17: 49%; for IDS-SR: 34%). Only the HAM-D17 added significant variance to the model (7%). Assessing sad mood with a single-item mood scale seems to be a straightforward and patient-friendly avenue for life-long mood monitoring. Using a diagnostic interview (e.g., the SCID) in case of a positive screen is warranted. Repeated assessment of the VAMS using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) might reduce false positives.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Gerard D
authors: GD
authors: van Rijsbergen
authors: Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Huibert
authors: H
authors: Burger
authors: Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychology, Nashville, TN, United States.
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: Hollon
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Hermien J
authors: HJ
authors: Elgersma
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Gemma D
authors: GD
authors: Kok
authors: Research Department, Arkin Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Dekker
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: de Jong
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: C.L.H.Bockting@rug.nl.
authors: Claudi L H
authors: CL
authors: Bockting
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000592:standards; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D012008:Recurrence; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Affect; Depression; Relapse; Screening; Sensitivity; Specificity; Visual analogue scale