Validity of Thai version of Mood Disorder Questionnaire (T- MDQ)

Abstract

Background : Bipolar disorder is a severe, chronic relapsing disorder with high morbidity. A valid screening tool of this disorder is useful for early detection and treatment to reduce the morbidity of the patients. Unfortunately, there is no screening questionnaire for bipolar disorder in Thai language. The mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ), a quick selfreport screening questionnaire for bipolar disorder, was developed by Robert M.A. Hirchfeld et al. in 2002. The MDQ was translated into Thai language and validated by the authors.

Objective : This descriptive cross-sectional study has the objective to examine the validity of the Thai version of the mood disorder questionnaire (Thai MDQ) in psychiatric outpatient setting.

Design : A cross - sectional descriptive study.

Setting : Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Method : The subjects were 85 patients from Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, diagnosed with mood disorders: 44 bipolar disorder, 21 major depressive disorder and 20 adjustment disorder with depressed mood, and 40 normal. They were enrolled into the study from September 1^st, 2007 to November 30^th, 2007. The instruments used in the study were composed of questionnaires for assessment of demographic data and past psychiatric illness, Thai MDQ, and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS version 11.5 for descriptive statistics, alpha Cronbach coefficient, validity of Thai MDQ including sensitivity and specificity analysis.

Results : The alpha Cronbach coefficient of the Thai MDQ was 0.8825. Comparing to the diagnosis of bipolar disorder by using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I) and clinical diagnosis by experienced psychiatrists as gold standard, Thai MDQ at the cut score of 7 had the sensitivity = 0.64 and specificity = 0.96.

Conclusion : The Thai version of mood disorder questionnaire had a reliable validity and reliability comparable to its original version . It could be used as a screening instrument for bipolar disorder in a psychiatric outpatient population.