A three-factor analytic model of the MADRS in geriatric depression

✍ Scribed by R. D. Parker; Elizabeth P. Flint; Hayden B. Bosworth; Carl F. Pieper; David C. Steffens

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 57 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.776

✦ Synopsis

Objective:

Major depression is a heterogeneous disorder, perhaps comprising several clinical subtypes or subgroups of symptoms. this study examined whether items on the montgomery-asberg depression rating scale (madrs) form distinct symptom subgroups among geriatric depressive patients that might form the basis of new outcome measures for tracking treatment effects.

Method:

The study examined a sample of 225 adults age 59 and older diagnosed with major depression. factor analysis with oblique rotation was used to analyze baseline madrs item scores.

Results:

Three distinct interpretable factors were obtained; all ten items loaded <0.60 on a domain. the first factor, dysphoric apathy/retardation, comprised five items: apparent sadness, reported sadness, lassitude, reduced concentration, and inability to feel. psychic anxiety, the second factor, included three items: inner tension, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts. the third factor, vegetative symptoms, resulted from items involving sleep and appetite.

Conclusions:

The study produced three interpretable madrs factors reflecting geriatric depression dimensions that may be useable to monitor focused treatment outcomes.