Dimensions of self-rated mood in depressed, manic, and normal subjects

Self-rated scales allow the comparison of subjective mood across the spectr um of manic, depressive, and euthymic states. This study examined the self- reported mood of manic, depressed, and normal subjects using a 23-item rese arch instrument based on the Carroll-Klein model of bipolar disorder. The M ultiple Visual Analog Scale (MVAS) measures the following dimensions: consu mmatory reward (seven items), incentive reward (two items), psychomotor spe ed (seven items), and central pain (seven items). The MVAS was completed by 31 manic inpatients, 43 depressed inpatients, and 29 normal volunteer subj ects. Total scores, average item scores, and total dimension scores were ob tained. Subjects also completed a global mood VAS and the Carroll Depressio n Scale (CDS). Groups were compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pos t hoc Bonferroni-Dunn methods. In a separate post hoc analysis, the group o f manic patients was divided at the median CDS score into "pure" and "dysph oric" manic subgroups. We found excellent congruence of average 23-item tot al MVAS scores with global VAS and CDS scores. Dimension scores on the MVAS conformed to the predictions of the Carroll-Klein model. Depressed patient s differed significantly from both manic and normal subjects on each dimens ion. MVAS dimension scores of normal subjects did not differ significantly from those of manic patients. On the dimension of central pain, normal subj ects had significantly less inhibited scores than the "pure" subgroup of ma nics. The results confirmed that the dimensions of the Carroll-Klein model are bipolar and orthogonal. By the MVAS technique, the self-reported mood o f normal subjects is similar to the self-reported mood of manic patients on all dimensions of the Carroll-Klein model of bipolar disorder. The positiv e scores of both groups are clearly distinguished from the negative scores of depressed patients. Average MVAS scores of normal subjects approximated the conventional zero score only on the dimension of central pain. Normal s ubjects exhibit megalothymic (hyperthymia) on most dimensions of subjective mood. The negative MVAS scores of depressed patients are even more deviant from normal than the conventional scoring system would suggest. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.