Clinical applications of visual analogue scales: a critical review

McCormack, Heather M.; Horne, David; Sheather, Simon J.

doi:10.1017/s0033291700009934

Cited by 1,748 publications

(1,082 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Visual analogue scales represent a simple technique for measuring subjective experience and have been established as being valid and reliable. 43 In DUSKS, using visual analogue scales (Appendix 1) to describe eye rubbing history, a statistically significant difference was identified between enroled subjects and a normal control population (19% wearing contact lenses), with keratoconics rubbing their eyes more frequently. However, by comparison, the closed questionnaire technique demonstrated a trend but no statistically significant difference.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dundee University Scottish Keratoconus study: demographics, corneal signs, associated diseases, and eye rubbing

Weed

MacEwen

Giles

et al. 2007

Eye

228

164

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Aim To investigate and correlate the corneal, refractive, topographic and familial characteristics of a large cohort with keratoconus. Methods Prospective observational study of 200 consecutive patients presenting with keratoconus during the 4 year-period 1997-2000. Subjects were examined at enrolment and at a final review. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, referral route, symptoms, refractive correction, eye rubbing, family history, medical history, slit-lamp biomicroscopic corneal signs, and computerized corneal topography. Results Mean age at enrolment was 30.9710.4 (range, 12.2-72) years (N ¼ 200, 62.5% male, 93% white Caucasian) with a 5% family history of keratoconus. Atopic diseases included asthma (23%), eczema (14%), and hay fever (30%). Only 9% wore contact lenses before referral. Mean follow-up was 1004 days 7282 (range, 390-1335) and 9.778.9 (range, 1.1-60) years from diagnosis. The mean simulated K1 corneal power at enrolment was 51.7475.36 (range, 42.59-67.32) D and 88.5% exhibited bilateral keratoconus. Fifty-three (15%) topographically confirmed cones exhibited no clinical corneal signs at presentation. At enrollment, 56% had a pachymetry o0.480 mm increasing to 77% at final review. Forty-eight percent of subjects reported significant eye rubbing and there was a highly statistically significant difference (two sample t-test P ¼ 0.018) between keratoconus and control groups. TMS-2 axial corneal power was strongly associated with corneal scarring and age at diagnosis. The size of the scarring effect was 2.2 D (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34, 3.06). Conclusions This study provides an overview of a large population with keratoconus highlighting presenting features and clinical and topographic progression over a 4 year-period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dundee University Scottish Keratoconus study: demographics, corneal signs, associated diseases, and eye rubbing

Weed

MacEwen

Giles

et al. 2007

Eye

228

164

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“…The evaluation of single-item measures has frequently been restricted to cross-sectional comparison with standard measures (McCormack et al, 1988;Cunny and Perri, 1991). McHorney et al investigated how precisely different methods for measuring general health status discriminated between different groups of patients (McHorney et al, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical relevance of single item quality of life indicators in cancer clinical trials

Bernhard

Sullivan

Hürny³

et al. 2001

Br J Cancer

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SummaryWe investigated the hypothesis that global single-item quality-of-life indicators are less precise for specific treatment effects (discriminant validity) than multi-item scales but similarly efficient for overall treatment comparisons and changes over time (responsiveness) because they reflect the summation of the individual meaning and importance of various factors. Linear analogue self-assessment (LASA) indicators for physical well-being, mood and coping were compared with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), the Mood Adjective Check List (MACL) and the emotional behaviour and social interaction scales of the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) in 84 patients with early breast cancer receiving adjuvant therapy. Discriminant validity was investigated by multitrait-multimethod correlation, responsiveness by standardized response mean (SRM). Discriminant validity of the indicators was present at baseline but less under treatment. Responsiveness was demonstrated by the expected pattern among treatments (P = 0.008). In patients without chemotherapy, the SRMs indicated moderate (0.5-0.8) to large (>0.8) improvements in physical well-being (0.70), coping (0.92), HAD anxiety (0.89) and depression (1.19), and MACL mental well-being (0.68). In patients with chemotherapy for the first 3 months, small but clinically significant improvements (>).2) included mood (0.38), coping (0.41), HAD axiety (0.31) and MACL mental well-being (0.35). Patients with 6 months chemotherapy showed no changes. The indicators also reflected mood disorders (HAD) and marked psychosocial dysfunction (SIP) at baseline and under treatment according to pre-defined cut-off levels. Global indicators were confirmed to be efficient for evaluating treatments overall and changes over time. The lower reliability of single as opposed to multi-item scales affects primarily their discriminant validity. This is less decisive in large sample sizes. PATIENTS AND METHODS SampleThis study included a consecutive sample of patients with operable breast cancer from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg which were randomized into one of the following IBCSG adjuvant therapy trials: Trial VI, for pre-and peri-menopausal, nodepositive (N+) patients; Trial VII, for postmenopausal N+ patients; Trial VIII, for pre-and peri-menopausal, node-negative (N-) patients; Trial IX, for postmenopausal N-patients. In these trials, varying schedules of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and their combinations were studied. The chemotherapy consisted of CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouricil); the endocrine therapy was Tamoxifen or LH-RH (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone) analogue. In patients with conservative surgery (quadrantectomy or lumpectomy) radiotherapy was started 2 weeks after the last chemotherapy course, or within 3 months in case of endocrine therapy alone. The randomization in Trials VI and VII was stratified by institution, type of surgery and oestrogen receptor (ER) status. The randomization in Trials VIII and IX was stratified by i...

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“…A trained research nurse clinician, with established reliability on the instruments used, was present throughout the procedure and administered the 25-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) (Mazure et al 1986), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) (Hamilton 1959), the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al 1961), the 29-item Physical Symptom Checklist (Woods et al 1986) and visual analog scales (McCormack et al 1988) describing 16 different mood states.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tryptophan Depletion During Continuous CSF Sampling in Healthy Human Subjects

Carpenter

Anderson

Pelton

et al. 1998

Neuropsychopharmacology

282

237

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The tryptophan (TRP) depletion paradigm has been employed to investigate mood and behavioral effects of acutely lowering plasma TRP, and presumably brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) levels through administration of a special diet and/or amino acid drink. Our goal was to test the assumption that a corresponding fall in central levels of TRP and 5-HT (measured by its major metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5-HIAA]) occurs during the standard execution of this method in healthy adult subjects. Three males and two females completed the protocol, which included a one-day low-TRP diet and a TRP-free amino acid drink. Lumbar puncture was performed, with placement of an indwelling catheter connected to a peristaltic pump and fraction collector.Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was sampled continuously for a 13.5-hour period (before, during, and The role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the pathogenesis and treatment of major neuropsychiatric disorders, especially depression, continues to be the subject of intensive research (Maes and Meltzer 1995). One paradigm for studying the role of 5-HT involves acutely manipulating levels of its amino acid precursor, tryptophan (TRP), and measuring corresponding behavioral effects. Because the synthesis of 5-HT is dependent on the availability of TRP, rapidly-induced shifts in the central level of TRP should produce transient alterations in the amount of 5-HT available for neurotransmission (Schaechter and Wurtman 1990;Young 1991). Observed or reported changes in behavior or psychiatric symptoms occurring during acute TRP manipulation have provided clues about the mechanism of action of serotonergic drugs, and the biology of several psychiatric disorders.Beginning in the 1970s, researchers have developed several strategies for altering TRP levels, in efforts to explore the relationship between the precursor amino acid, serotonergic function, and behavior. Preclinical studies demonstrated that dietary restriction of TRP could evoke modest reductions in plasma and brain TRP (Fernstrom 1977), with corresponding behavioral indices reflecting diminished 5-HT function (Lytle et al. 1975;Messing et al. 1976;Gibbons et al. 1979; Moja et al. Walters et al. 1979). Dietary TRP restriction in both animals and humans has subsequently been associated with enhanced response to neuroendocrine challenges in a manner consistent with compensatory postsynaptic supersensitivity (Clemens et al. 1980;Delgado et al. 1989), again suggesting that the depletion is diminishing 5-HT function at a central nervous system (CNS) level. More rapid decreases in plasma and brain TRP levels can be achieved by the administration of a TRP-free amino acid mixture Young et al. 1995;Moja et al. 1988). Here the mechanism involves providing substrate for induction of protein synthesis to such a degree that available peripheral TRP stores are largely used up, resulting in a drop in the ratio of TRP to other large neutral amino acids in plasma (Harper et al. 1970). Because TRP competes with the other lar...

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Clinical applications of visual analogue scales: a critical review

Cited by 1,748 publications

References 50 publications

The Dundee University Scottish Keratoconus study: demographics, corneal signs, associated diseases, and eye rubbing

The Dundee University Scottish Keratoconus study: demographics, corneal signs, associated diseases, and eye rubbing

Clinical relevance of single item quality of life indicators in cancer clinical trials

Tryptophan Depletion During Continuous CSF Sampling in Healthy Human Subjects

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