When screening for bipolar disorders, Mood Disorders Questionnaire scores proved more sensitive – but showed less specificity – in an inpatient mood disorders setting than an outpatient psychiatric population, a retrospective study shows. The results suggest that the MDQ can be used effectively on an inpatient psychiatry mood disorders unit, reported Dr. Simon Kung and his associates.
Dr. Kung of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and his associates evaluated 1,330 patients who checked into a mood disorders unit and administered the MDQ upon entry. After excluding patients with diagnoses that were neither unipolar or bipolar, 860 MDQs were ultimately used. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each number of questionnaire items checked positive.
The researchers determined that the optimal cutoff score for MDQs was 8, resulting in a sensitivity/specificity of 86%/71%, compared with 92%/64% using the recommended outpatient cutoff of 7.
Read the full article here: (J Affect Disord. 201515;188:97-100. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.08.060)