The authors' preliminary study selected 22 items for Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS), including depression subscale (DS) and somatic subscale (SS). The aim of the study was to test reliability and validity of the DSSS. The study enrolled 135 consecutive outpatients (34 male and 101 female) experiencing a major depressive episode (the MDE group), 95 of whom (25 male and 70 female) accepted 1 month of treatment (the treatment group). Diagnosis was confirmed by using the Structured Clinical Interview for 4 th edition with text revision Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Axis I Disorders. The DSSS and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) were given and evaluated. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency. The correlation between the improvement percentage (IP) for the HAMD and the IP for the DSSS was calculated for the treatment group. Factor analysis was performed by using the principal-axis factoring method with promax rotation. Cronbach's alpha values of the DSSS and its subscales ranged from 0.73 to 0.94. Pearson correlation coefficients for the relationship between the DSSS and HAMD ranged from 0.63 to 0.86. In the treatment group, DSSS and HAMD scores were significantly decreased after treatment and the IP for the HAMD and the DSSS were similar and correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.78). The results of the factor analysis demonstrated that most of the items in DS and SS appropriately loaded in Depression and Somatic factors, respectively. The discriminative ability of the DSSS for anxiety comorbidities was not inferior to that of the HAMD. Therefore, the DSSS is reliable and sensitive to the treatment and has acceptable convergent, factorial, and distinctgroups validities. Because it assesses both depression and somatic symptoms, DSSS may overcome the deficiency of other depression scales with few somatic items.

The factors predicting adherence and persistence are complex and interactive. Different methods of studies have limitations in terms of exploring all these factors. Future studies should integrate these factors simultaneously and explore specific factors predicting adherence and persistence among subgroups of patients with depression.

BackgroundDisputes exist regarding the psychometric properties of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The present study was to examine the reliability, validity, and dimensionality of a Chinese version of the ODI version 2.1 in a sample of 225 adult orthopedic outpatients with chronic low back pain [mean age (SD): 40.7 (11.4) years].MethodsWe conducted reliability analysis, exploratory bifactor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and Mokken scale analysis of the ODI. To validate the ODI, we used the Short-Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36) and visual analog scale (VAS).ResultsThe reliability, and discriminant and construct validities of the ODI was good. The fit statistics of the unidimensional model of the ODI were inadequate. The ODI was a weak Mokken scale (Hs = 0.31).ConclusionsThe ODI was a reliable and valid scale suitable for measurement of disability in patients with low back pain. But the ODI seemed to be multidimensional that was against the use of the raw score of the ODI as a measurement of disability.

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This study investigated the impact of migraine on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). We prospectively enrolled 151 consecutive psychiatric out-patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD. Migraine and other headache types were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (2004). The Short Form-36 (SF-36) was administered as a generic instrument of HRQoL. Among 151 patients with MDD, migraine (N = 73, 48.3%) was very common. Comorbidity of migraine predicted a significantly negative impact on all physical subscales and vitality but not on the other mental subscales of the SF-36 after controlling for depression, age and gender. The presence of migraine should be considered as an important physical symptom in clinic-based MDD samples. Simultaneous management of depression and severe headaches, especially migraine, might improve HRQoL in patients with MDD.

No abstract

The DSSS and HADS can be used to distinguish different depressive states. The results demonstrated the discriminative validity of the DSSS and the HADS.

PurposeNo study to date has compared the associations of pain intensity, depression, and anxiety with insomnia among outpatients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study aimed to investigate this issue.Patients and methodsA total of 225 outpatients with CLBP were enrolled from a general orthopedics clinic. The Insomnia Severity Index was used to evaluate sleep quality. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision, Axis I Disorders. Two psychometric scales were used to evaluate depression and anxiety. The Visual Analog Scale was employed to assess pain intensity. Multiple linear regressions were performed to determine the association of insomnia with pain intensity, depression, and anxiety.ResultsAmong the 225 subjects, 58 (25.8%) had clinical insomnia; 83 (36.9%) had severe low back pain; 49 (21.8%) had MDD, including 21 (9.3%) with a current major depressive episode (MDE); and 52 (23.1%) had anxiety disorders. More than half (56.9%) of the subjects with CLBP and clinical insomnia had MDD and/or anxiety disorders. Subjects with a current MDE or anxiety disorders had greater severities of pain and insomnia as compared with subjects without these conditions. After controlling for demographic variables, MDE was more strongly associated with insomnia than severe low back pain; moreover, the severity of depression had a greater association with insomnia than pain intensity.ConclusionThe association of depression with insomnia was not inferior to that of pain intensity with insomnia. Among patients with CLBP and insomnia, integration of depression and anxiety treatment into treatment of pain might help to improve sleep quality.