[Validation of the Italian version of the Koukopoulos Mixed Depression Rating Scale (KMDRS) in an Italian sample of subjects with mood disorders].

BACKGROUND

The construct of mixed depression (MxD), namely the simultaneous presence of excitatory symptoms during a depressive episode, has gained increased interest in the recent years. The Koukopoulos Mixed Depression Rating Scale (KMDRS) has been recently validated for the diagnosis and assessment of MxD. The aim of this study was to validate the Italian version of the KMDRS.

METHODS

Patients with a major depressive episode (MDE) (N=396, age, mean=44.73 years, SD=15.93) were recruited at Lucio Bini Center, Rome, Italy. All participants were administered the Italian version of the KMDRS, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI), and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). We calculated predictive validity, and performed Receiver Operator Curve (ROC) analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and inter-rater reliability.

RESULTS

Predictive validity (C-statistic= 0.80; IC 95%: 0.75, 0.85) and capacity [OR=1.25±.03 (SE); 95% CI: 1.18, 1.32; p<.001] were good, matching those of the original version, whereas internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .70, IC 95%: 0.65, 0.75) and interrater reliability (Cohen's kappa= 0.74) were adequate.

CONCLUSIONS

The agreement of results with those of the original version point to the validity of the Italian version of KMDRS in assessing MxD.