Can a One-Item Mood Scale Do the Trick? Predicting Relapse over 5.5-Years in Recurrent Depression

van Rijsbergen GD, Bockting CL, Berking M, Koeter MW, Schene AH (2012)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

PLoS ONE Public Library of Science

Book Volume: 7

Article Number: e46796

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046796

Abstract

Background: To examine whether a simple Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) is able to predict time to relapse over 5.5-years. Methodology/Principal Findings: 187 remitted recurrently depressed out-patients were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and the 17-item Hamilton Depression rating scale (HAM-D) to verify remission status (HAM-D <10). All patients rated their current mood with the help of a Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) at baseline and at a follow-up assessment three months later. Relapse over 5.5-years was assessed by the SCID-I. Cox regression revealed that both the VAMS at baseline and three months later significantly predicted time to relapse over 5.5-years. Baseline VAMS even predicted time to relapse when the number of previous depressive episodes and HAM-D scores were controlled for. The baseline VAMS explained 6.3% of variance in time to relapse, comparable to the HAM-D interview. Conclusions/Significance: Sad mood after remission appears to play a pivotal role in the course of depression. Since a simple VAMS predicted time to relapse, the VAMS might be an easy and time-effective way to monitor mood and risk of early relapse, and offers possibilities for daily monitoring using e-mail and SMS. Trial Registration: International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Register Identifier: ISRCTN68246470. © 2012 van Rijsbergen et al.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias Berking

Additional Organisation(s)

Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Involved external institutions

University of Amsterdam NL Netherlands (NL) University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen NL Netherlands (NL) Philipps-Universität Marburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

van Rijsbergen, G.D., Bockting, C.L., Berking, M., Koeter, M.W., & Schene, A.H. (2012). Can a One-Item Mood Scale Do the Trick? Predicting Relapse over 5.5-Years in Recurrent Depression. PLoS ONE, 7(10). https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046796

MLA:

van Rijsbergen, Gerard D., et al. "Can a One-Item Mood Scale Do the Trick? Predicting Relapse over 5.5-Years in Recurrent Depression." PLoS ONE 7.10 (2012).

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