Standardization and validation of the visual analog mood scales

Abstract

The Visual Analog Mood Scales (VAMS) have recently been developed to better understand and assess mood disturbance in neurologically impaired patients who, because of communication and cognitive deficits, cannot complete more lengthy, verbally demanding measures of mood states. In the present study, normative data from age-, gender- and race-stratified general adult (n = 400) and geriatric (n = 175) standardization samples are presented. In addition, validation evidence for the VAMS, using a multitrait, multimethod paradigm, is reported and the underlying content structure of VAMS items, using principal components analysis, is presented. The VAMS scores correlated significantly (r's ranging from .55 to 30) with other measures of mood disturbance. Principal components analysis resulted in a two-component solution, which was labeled “Negative Mood” and “Energy”. The VAMS appear to be brief, easily administered, and valid measures of mood states. The normative data presented allow for improved interpretation of scores obtained from clinical samples.