title: The dimensional structure of cycling mood disorders.
abstract: This study examines whether mood disorders differ fundamentally in terms of phase duration. Most clinically significant mood disorders are recurrent and cyclical. The phase duration of these cycles is part of the diagnostic criteria. Specifically, we determined whether a dimensional or taxonic latent structure better captures cycling mood disorders. 319 patients recruited from 5 psychiatrists and a psychoeducational program completed three questionnaires assessing aspects of mood cycling. These were the Affective Lability Scale-Short Form (ALS-SF), Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ), and the Eysenck Neuroticism scale. Patient scores on these instruments were submitted to three taxometric procedures (MAMBAC, MAXEIG, and L-Mode). Comparison curve fit indices (CCFIs) were calculated to distinguish taxonic versus dimensional latent structure. In addition, graphs were produced for each procedure and compared with those of categorical or dimensional prototypes. The CCFIs of the three procedures ranged from 0.25 to 0.27, consistent with dimensional structure. The graphs closely resembled dimensional prototypes. Mood instability and other types of cycling moods probably conform to a dimensional latent structure. Patients with disorders featuring mood cycling might benefit from common treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8.
authors.forename: Lloyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balbuena
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 0W8. Electronic address: r.bowen@usask.ca.
authors.forename: Rudy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000075384:Neuroticism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Latent structure; Mood instability; Mood swings