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Quick rating of depressed mood in patients with anxiety disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Nigel McKenzie  and
Isaac Marks
Nigel McKenzie*
Affiliation:
Camden and Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University College London Medical School
Isaac Marks
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
Dr Nigel McKenzie, Waterlow Unit, Highgate Hill, London N19 5NF; e-mail: n.mckenzie@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background

Regular assessment of mood is often important for treatment but traditional measures can be time-consuming. A quick ‘litmus test’ is needed.

Aims

To test the reliability and validity of a single-item scale for mood.

Method

Mood was measured repeatedly in 812 patients (258 in-patients, 554 out-patients) being treated in an anxiety disorders unit. Patients had self- and clinician ratings of a single-item depression scale and also rated the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI–21). Their single-item scores were compared with BDI–21 scores and with outcome measures.

Results

The single-item depression scores correlated 0.71 to 0.78 with the BDI–21 scores. Clinically useful cut-off points were identified. Depression scores at discharge, but not pre-treatment, correlated significantly with improvement in the main problem.

Conclusions

The quick single-item depression scale, whether rated by patient or by clinician, is a reasonable rough guide to mood in anxiety disorders and saves time for the patient and the clinician compared to longer measures.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 3 , March 1999 , pp. 266 - 269
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

None.

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