Comparison of the Internal State Scale to clinician-administered scales inasthma patients receiving corticosteroid therapy

Mood symptoms are reported frequently in asthma patients, particularly duri ng corticosteroid therapy. This investigation compared the Internet State S cale (ISS), a self-report measure of symptoms of mania and depression, to t he Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Young Mania Rating Scale (Y MRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) in a group of asthma patien ts (n = 60 at baseline before, during, and after a 1-2 week burst of predni sone. The depression and well being subscales of the ISS correlated wall wi th HDRS scores. The perceived conflict subscale correlated consistently and specifically with the YMRS in this population. Possible explanations for d ifferences observed in bipolar versus asthma patients given the ISS are dis cussed. These data suggest the ISS may be a useful tool for depression symp toms and overall psychopathology in asthma patients and in patients receivi ng corticosteroid therapy. However, its ability may be attenuated outside o f the population for which it was designed. (C) Elsevier Science, Inc.