TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of measurement frequency on self-reported depressive symptoms
T2 - An experimental study in a clinical setting
AU - Geschwind, Nicole
AU - van Teffelen, Martijn
AU - Hammarberg, Elin
AU - Arntz, Arnoud
AU - Huibers, Marcus J.H.
AU - Renner, Fritz
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Background: Previous research suggests a relationship between measurement frequency of selfreported depressive symptoms and change in depressive symptom scores for the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The goal of the current study was to investigate the differential effects of weekly and monthly completion of the BDI-II and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology self-report (QIDS-SR). Methods: Seventy individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) waiting for treatment were randomly assigned to either completing BDI-II weekly, BDI-II monthly, QIDS-SR weekly, or QIDS-SR monthly for a duration of nine weeks. After nine weeks participants also completed the Zung depression scale once. Mixed multilevel regression modelling and Bayesian Statistical Analysis were used to test the relationship between the measurement frequency and depression scores, and to compare scores of the repeatedly completed instruments with the instrument completed only in week nine. Results: Measurement frequency was not related to BDI-II, QIDS-SR or Zung scores. However, depression scores declined in the weekly and monthly QIDS-SR (but not BDI-II) conditions, while Bayesian analyses indicated moderate support for equal depression scores on the Zung SDS. Limitations: Lack of a clinician-rated depression scale at week nine in addition to the self-report measure. Conclusions: In contrast to previous studies in non-clinical samples, our findings suggest that measurement frequency does not have an impact on scores of the BDI-II. Implications for clinical studies monitoring depressive symptom scores with self-report scales are discussed.
AB - Background: Previous research suggests a relationship between measurement frequency of selfreported depressive symptoms and change in depressive symptom scores for the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). The goal of the current study was to investigate the differential effects of weekly and monthly completion of the BDI-II and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology self-report (QIDS-SR). Methods: Seventy individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) waiting for treatment were randomly assigned to either completing BDI-II weekly, BDI-II monthly, QIDS-SR weekly, or QIDS-SR monthly for a duration of nine weeks. After nine weeks participants also completed the Zung depression scale once. Mixed multilevel regression modelling and Bayesian Statistical Analysis were used to test the relationship between the measurement frequency and depression scores, and to compare scores of the repeatedly completed instruments with the instrument completed only in week nine. Results: Measurement frequency was not related to BDI-II, QIDS-SR or Zung scores. However, depression scores declined in the weekly and monthly QIDS-SR (but not BDI-II) conditions, while Bayesian analyses indicated moderate support for equal depression scores on the Zung SDS. Limitations: Lack of a clinician-rated depression scale at week nine in addition to the self-report measure. Conclusions: In contrast to previous studies in non-clinical samples, our findings suggest that measurement frequency does not have an impact on scores of the BDI-II. Implications for clinical studies monitoring depressive symptom scores with self-report scales are discussed.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100168
DO - 10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100168
M3 - Article
VL - 5
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
M1 - 100168
ER -