title: The assessment of depression in people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of psychometric validation studies.
abstract: The prevalence of depression in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is high; however, symptoms common to both conditions makes measurement difficult. There is no high quality overview of validation studies to guide the choice of depression inventory for this population.
  
  
  
  A systematic review of studies validating the use of generic depression inventories in people with MS was conducted using MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Studies validating the use of depression inventories in PwMS and published in English were included; validation studies of tests for cognitive function and general mental health were excluded. Eligible studies were then quality assessed using the COSMIN checklist and findings synthesised narratively by instrument and validity domain.
  
  
  
  Twenty-one studies (N = 5,991 PwMS) evaluating 12 instruments were included in the review. Risk of bias varied greatly between instrument and validity domain.
  
  
  
  The review of validation studies was constrained by poor quality reporting and outcome reporting bias. Well-conducted evaluations of some instruments are unavailable for some validity domains. This systematic review provides an evidence base for trade-offs in the selection of an instrument for assessing self-reported symptoms of depression in research or clinical practice involving people with MS. We make detailed and specific recommendations for where further research is needed.
  
  
  
  PROSPERO CRD42014010597.
authors: Clinical Trials Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Hind
authors: Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, Sheffield Hallam University, Heart of the Campus, 42 Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, S10 2BQ, UK. d.kaklamanou@gmail.com.
authors: Daphne
authors: D
authors: Kaklamanou
authors: Clinical Trials Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Beever
authors: Breast Cancer Now, London, UK.
authors: Rosie
authors: R
authors: Webster
authors: Clinical Trials Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Lee
authors: Centre for Psychological Services Research, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Barkham
authors: Clinical Trials Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors: Cindy
authors: C
authors: Cooper
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D003863:Depression / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D054928:Validation Studies as Topic
keywords: Chronic Disease; Depression; Multiple Sclerosis; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results