Abstract
BackgroundDepression often onsets in adolescence and is associated with recurrence in adulthood. There is a need to identify and monitor depression symptoms across adolescence and into young adulthood. The short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (sMFQ) is commonly used to measure depression symptoms in adolescence but has not been validated in young adulthood. This study aimed to (1) examine whether the sMFQ is valid in young adulthood, and (2) identify cut-points best capturing DSM-5 depression diagnosis at age 25 MethodsThe sample included participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) at age 25 (n = 4098). Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses examined how well the self-rated sMFQ discriminates between cases and non-cases of DSM-5 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) classified using the self-rated Development and Well Being Assessment. Sensitivity and specificity values were used to identify cut-points on the sMFQ ResultsThe sMFQ had high accuracy for discriminating MDD cases from non-cases at age 25. The commonly used cut-point in adolescence (≥12) performed well at this age, best balancing sensitivity and specificity. However, a lower cut-point (≥10) may be appropriate when favouring sensitivity over specificity e.g., in context of screening. Sensitivity analyses suggested similar results for males and females LimitationsALSPAC is a longitudinal population cohort that suffers from non-random attrition ConclusionsThe sMFQ is a valid measure of depression in young adults in the general population. It can be used to screen for and monitor depression across adolescence and early adulthood.
Highlights
Depression commonly onsets in adolescence (Kessler et al, 2005)
Measures of depression that are commonly used for research and clinical practice in childhood and adolescence (e.g. Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, MFQ (Angold and Costello, 1987)) are different to the ones utilised in adult life (e.g. Beck Depression Inventory, BDI (Beck et al, 1961))
This study aims to (1) examine whether the short MFQ is a valid assessment of depression in young adults, and (2) identify optimal cutpoints for research and clinical practice that capture a DSM-5 diag nosis of major depression at age 25 years
Summary
Depression commonly onsets in adolescence (Kessler et al, 2005). It is the most common mental health problem, a leading cause of global disability, and is associated with repeated episodes of illness and poor long term outcomes including suicide (Costello and Maughan, 2015; Dunn and Goodyer, 2006; Harris and Barraclough, 1998; Kessler et al, 2005; Thapar et al, 2012). Whilst there is a need for measures that are validated across childhood, adolescence and into adulthood, research suggests differences in aeti ology (Rice, 2010) and treatment (Thapar et al, 2012) across these age groups. The short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (sMFQ) is commonly used to measure depression symptoms in adolescence but has not been validated in young adulthood. This study aimed to (1) examine whether the sMFQ is valid in young adulthood, and (2) identify cut-points best capturing DSM-5 depression diagnosis at age 25 Methods: The sample included participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) at age 25 (n = 4098). Sensitivity analyses suggested similar results for males and females Limitations: ALSPAC is a longitudinal population cohort that suffers from non-random attrition Conclusions: The sMFQ is a valid measure of depression in young adults in the general population. It can be used to screen for and monitor depression across adolescence and early adulthood
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