Research

Validation of the Italian version of the "Mood Disorder Questionnaire" for the screening of bipolar disorders

Maria Carolina Hardoy^1,2, Mariangela Cadeddu¹, Andrea Murru¹, Bernardo Dell'Osso², Bernardo Carpiniello¹, Pier Luigi Morosini³, Joseph R Calabrese⁴ and Mauro Giovanni Carta¹

¹  Division of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Italy

²  Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Italy

³  National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy

⁴  Case University School of Medicine Director, Mood Disorders Program, University Hospitals of Cleveland, USA

Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health 2005, 1:8doi:10.1186/1745-0179-1-8

Published:	21 July 2005

Abstract

The study measured the accuracy of the Italian version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) as a screening instrument for bipolar disorders in a psychiatric setting.

Methods

154 consecutive subjects attending the Division of Psychiatry of the University of Cagliari (Italy), were screened for bipolar disorders using the Italian translation of the MDQ, and diagnostically interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) by physicians.

Results

On the basis of the SCID: 51 (33.1%) received a diagnosis of bipolar or schizoaffective bipolar type disorders, 63 (40.9%) were diagnosed as having at least one psychiatric disorder in Axis I (other than bipolar or schizoaffective bipolar type disorders), whilst 40 (25.9%) were unaffected by any type of psychiatric disorder. MDQ showed a good accuracy for bipolar or schizoaffective bipolar type disorders: the cut-off 4 had sensitivity 0.90 and specificity 0.58; the cut-off 5 had sensitivity 0.84 and specificity 0.70; and the cut-off 6 had sensitivity 0.76 and specificity 0.86. The accuracy for bipolar II disorders was sufficient but not excellent: the cut-off 4 had sensitivity 0.80 and specificity 0.45; the cut-off 5 had sensitivity 0.70 and specificity 0.55; and the cut-off 6 had sensitivity 0.55 and specificity 0.65.

Conclusion

Our results seem to indicate a good accuracy of MDQ, and confirm the results of recent surveys conducted in the USA. Moreover the instrument needs to be validated in other settings (e.g. in general practice).