Cover Image
QR Code

Empirical investigation of two assumptions in the diagnosis of DSM-IV major depressive episode.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to examine two major assumptions behind the DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive episode (MDE): that depression represents a distinct category defined by a valid symptom threshold, and that each depressive symptom contributes equally to the diagnosis. METH...

Full description

Published in:Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 17 - 24
Main Authors: Sakashita C, Slade T, Andrews G
Format: research Journal Article
Published: Sage Publications Inc. Jan2007
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=105654289&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 105654289
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00048674
        7ZU
      jtl: Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
      issn: 00048674
      maglogo: Y
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jan2007
      vid: 41
      iid: 1
      pid: 344
      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
      place: Thousand Oaks, California
    artinfo:
      ui:
        105654289
        105654289
        2010032652
        10.1080/00048670601050440
        NLM17464677
        105654289
      ppf: 17
      ppct: 7
      formats:
        fmt:
          @attributes:
            type: P
      tig:
        atl: Empirical investigation of two assumptions in the diagnosis of DSM-IV major depressive episode.
      aug:
        au:
          Sakashita C
          Slade T
          Andrews G
      sug:
        subj:
          Depression Diagnosis
          DSM
          Empirical Research
          Questionnaires
          Australia
          Depression Epidemiology
          Interview Guides
          Human
      ab: OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to examine two major assumptions behind the DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive episode (MDE): that depression represents a distinct category defined by a valid symptom threshold, and that each depressive symptom contributes equally to the diagnosis. METHODS: Data were from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Participants consisted of a random population-based sample of 10 641 community volunteers, representing a response rate of 78%. DSM-IV diagnoses of MDE and other mental disorders were obtained using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, version 2.0. Analyses were carried out on the subsample of respondents who endorsed either depressed mood or loss of interest (n =2137). Multivariate linear regression analyses examined the relationship between the number and type of symptoms and four independent measures of impairment. RESULTS: The relationship between the number of depressive symptoms and the four measures of impairment was purely linear. Three individual symptoms (sleep problems, energy loss, and psychomotor disturbance) were all independent predictors of three of the four measures of impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Counting symptoms alone is limited in guiding a clear diagnostic threshold. The differential impact of individual symptoms on impairment suggests that impairment levels may be more accurately estimated by weighting the particular symptoms endorsed.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N