SIGMA-VB: Validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale using the Structured Interview Guide for the MADRS

Objective: The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is widely used to assess depression severity. The Structured Interview Guide for the MADRS (SIGMA) was created to standardize MADRS assessment. The objective of this study was to translate and validate the original SIGMA into a Brazilian Portuguese version (SIGMA-VB). Methods: We translated and cross-culturally validated the original SIGMA into the SIGMA-VB, and assessed its psychometric properties using data from 93 adult outpatients enrolled in the Integral Assessment in Unipolar Depression (AIUNI) trial. Participants were assessed by two raters on five visits over 8 weeks. We calculated multiple interrater reliability indexes for the SIGMA-VB and used the Hamilton Depression Hating Scale (HAM-D) for validation purposes. Results: According to the SIGMA-VB, participants had moderate depression at baseline followed by mild depression at 8 weeks. We found over 90% of correlation between scores attributed by different raters using the SIGMA-VB. Correlations between the SIGMA-VB and the HAM-D were above 66%. Conclusion: Our findings confirm that the SIGMA-VB is a valid and reliable instrument to assess depression severity in clinical research and practice. Its interrater reliability was similar to that of a previously published Japanese version of the SIGMA.

Caudate volume differences among treatment responders, non-responders and controls in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Treatment response in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is heterogeneous and the neurobiological underpinnings of such variability are unknown. To investigate this issue, we looked for differences in brain structures possibly associated with treatment response in children with OCD. 29 children with OCD (7-17 years) and 28 age-matched controls underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging. Patients then received treatment with fluoxetine or group cognitive-behavioral therapy during 14 weeks, and were classified as treatment responders or non-responders. The caudate nucleus, thalamus and orbitofrontal cortex were selected a priori, according to previous evidence of their association with OCD and its treatment. Gray matter (GM) volume comparisons between responders, non-responders and controls were performed, controlling for total GM volume. 17 patients were classified as responders. Differences among responders, non-responders and controls were found in both caudate nuclei (both p-values = 0.041), but after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, these findings were non-significant. However, after excluding the effect of an outlier, findings were significant for the right caudate (p = 0.004). Pairwise comparisons showed larger caudate GM volume in responders versus non-responders and controls, bilaterally. The right caudate accounted for 20.2% of the variance in Y-BOCS changes after treatment in a linear regression model, with a positive correlation (p = 0.016). We present a possible neural substrate for treatment response in pediatric OCD, which is in line with previous evidence regarding the caudate nucleus. Considering the limitations, further research is needed to replicate this finding and elucidate the heterogeneity of treatment response in children with OCD (National Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT01148316).

SIGMA-VB: Validity and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale using the Structured Interview Guide for the MADRS.

OBJECTIVE: The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) is widely used to assess depression severity. The Structured Interview Guide for the MADRS (SIGMA) was created to standardize MADRS assessment. The objective of this study was to translate and validate the original SIGMA into a Brazilian Portuguese version (SIGMA-VB). METHODS: We translated and cross-culturally validated the original SIGMA into the SIGMA-VB, and assessed its psychometric properties using data from 93 adult outpatients enrolled in the Integral Assessment in Unipolar Depression (AIUNI) trial. Participants were assessed by two raters on five visits over 8 weeks. We calculated multiple interrater reliability indexes for the SIGMA-VB and used the Hamilton Depression Hating Scale (HAM-D) for validation purposes. RESULTS: According to the SIGMA-VB, participants had moderate depression at baseline followed by mild depression at 8 weeks. We found over 90% of correlation between scores attributed by different raters using the SIGMA-VB. Correlations between the SIGMA-VB and the HAM-D were above 66%. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that the SIGMA-VB is a valid and reliable instrument to assess depression severity in clinical research and practice. Its interrater reliability was similar to that of a previously published Japanese version of the SIGMA.