Mood variability in adolescents: a study of depressed, nondepressed and comorbid patients

doi:10.1016/0165-0327(91)90101-W

Journal of Affective Disorders

Volume 23, Issue 4, December 1991, Pages 199-212

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(91)90101-W Get rights and content

Abstract

In a study to examine the variability of mood in psychiatrically disturbed adolescents, 30 inpatients aged 13–17 reported on current depressive symptoms three times a day for seven consecutive days, using a set of visual analog scales (the Adolescent Mood Scale: AMS) to record DSM-IIIR and other depressive symptoms. Ten of the patients had no depressive diagnosis; 11 had both a depressive and an ‘externalizing’ diagnosis (mainly conduct disorders and substance abuse disorders), and nine had depressive diagnoses but no externalizing disorder. Variability was defined in terms of (1) range AMS scores; (2) amount of change from one test point to the next; (3) rhythmicity, measured by the autocorrelation function across 21 test points. All three groups had high levels of depressive symptoms throughout the week. On all measures of severity of depression, the depressed girls were more depressed than the depressed boys, irrespective of comorbidity. Measures of variability, however, showed no effect of sex, but comorbid patients were more likely to have a wide range of mood scores, and reported a 45% greater amount of mood change. Only five subjects had a significant lag1 autocorrelation function, and there was no indication of diurnal rhythmicity. Implications for research and diagnosis are discussed.

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Mood variability in adolescents: a study of depressed, nondepressed and comorbid patients

Abstract

J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry

Compr. Psychiatry

J. Psychiatr. Res.

Behavioral problems and competencies reported by parents of normal and disturbed children aged four through sixteen

Monogr. Soc. Res. Child Dev.

Child/adolescent behavioral and emotional problems: implications of cross-informat correlations for situational specificity

Psychol. Bull.

Measurement of feelings using visual analogue scales

Proc. R. Soc. Med.

The nosologic status of depression in children and adolescents: a review for the DSM-IV committee on depression in childhood and adolescence

Depressive comorbidity in children and adolescents: meanings and mechanisms

The development of a questionnaire for use in epidemiological studies of depression in children and adolescents

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment