Depression Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Depression, including details on clinical depression, medication, symptoms, treatment, counselling, therapy.

Beck Depression Inventory is a useful screening tool for major depressive disorder in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Snijders AH, Robertson MM, Orth M

Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.

This study determined the prevalence of and factors associated with comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). How a simple self-report instrument, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), correlates with clinical assessment of comorbid MDD in this population was assessed. In a continuous sample of 114 adult patients with GTS, assessed clinically using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria, 26 (23%) patients met criteria for MDD; more severe tics as measured with the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, conduct disorder in childhood or higher age at the time of assessment were associated with MDD. The BDI score had a high negative predictive value for diagnosis of MDD, but a low positive predictive value. Using the BDI as a screening tool for comorbid MDD in patients with GTS is suggested.

Published 17 May 2006 in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 77(6): 787-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Depression Research Today. All Rights Reserved.