The Danish SF-36 Health Survey: translation and preliminary validity studies.

This article reports on the Danish translation of SF-36 and discusses the procedures used for translation improvement, translation evaluation, and scale evaluation. We followed the standard procedures of the International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) Project including forward and backward translation, independent assessment of translation quality, assessment of response-choice weighting through visual analogue scale (VAS) investigations, and psychometric testing of the translated questionnaire. We found that backward translation, independent quality assessment, and VAS studies provided useful information for translation improvement. The Danish SF-36 received a favorable translation evaluation by independent rating; however, interrater agreement was low. Preliminary validity studies generally supported the internal consistency and homogeneity of the Danish SF-36, and the questionnaire performed satisfactorily in distinguishing depressive patients from nonpatients. On the basis of this and other studies, we recommend use of the Danish SF-36 in research.

The equivalence of SF-36 summary health scores estimated using standard and country-specific algorithms in 10 countries: results from the IQOLA Project. International Quality of Life Assessment.

Data from general population surveys (n = 1771 to 9151) in nine European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) were analyzed to test the algorithms used to score physical and mental component summary measures (PCS-36/MCS-36) based on the SF-36 Health Survey. Scoring coefficients for principal components were estimated independently in each country using identical methods of factor extraction and orthogonal rotation. PCS-36 and MCS-36 scores were also estimated using standard (U.S.-derived) scoring algorithms, and results were compared. Product-moment correlations between scores estimated from standard and country-specific scoring coefficients were very high (0.98 to 1.00) for both physical and mental health components in all countries. As hypothesized for orthogonal components, correlations between physical and mental components within each country were very low (0.00 to 0.12) for both estimation methods. Mean scores for PCS-36 differed by as much as 3.0 points across countries using standard scoring, and mean scores for MCS-36 differed across countries by as much as 6.4 points. In view of the high degree of equivalence observed within each country, using standard and country-specific algorithms, we recommend use of standard scoring algorithms for purposes of multinational studies involving these 10 countries.

Beyond the Hamilton depression scores in long-term treatment of manic-melancholic patients: prediction of recurrence of depression by quality of life measurements.

This study should be considered as a pilot study to investigate the applicability and validity of quality of life scales in manic-melancholic patients in long-term, prophylactic treatment. The quality of life instruments included the SmithKline Beecham Quality of Life (SBQOL) scale, the PCASEE questionnaire (a modified paper-and-pencil version of the computerized SBQOL), the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36) scale. The patients (n = 23) fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria of bipolar or recurrent depressive disorders. They were investigated in a symptom-free period (HAM-D < 14) and again 4 weeks later. The results showed that the quality of life scales had an adequate applicability and internal validity. Furthermore, at first visit a factor analysis identified two factors of which the quality of life scales loaded on the first factor (positive well-being) and the Hamilton scales loaded on the second factor (negative well-being). At the second visit, only one, general, factor emerged, because some of the patients had relapsed. Those patients with a relapse had low quality of life scores at the first visit indicating that the quality of life scales can predict recurrence of depression.

Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: comparison of a new beta-blocking drug (CGP 361 A), low-dose neuroleptic (flupenthixol), and placebo.

In an attempt to evaluate an alternative drug treatment to benzodiazepines in generalized anxiety disorders, a placebo controlled trial was carried out with a new beta-adrenergic blocker (CPG 361 A). A low-dosage neuroleptic (flupenthixol) was included as a reference drug. Depending on the clinical assessment scales the placebo treatment resulted in moderate to excellent improvement in 36% to 56% of the patients after four weeks of treatment. The active drugs generally had a higher improvement range (from 31% to 80%). The global improvement scale was found to be better than the other scales in discriminating between placebo (50% improvement) and the active drugs (CGP 361 A brought about 78% improvement and flupenthixol brought about 80% improvement). However, only for flupenthixol was the difference of statistical significance.