Cardiac Depression Scale: Mokken scaling in heart failure patients

Ski, Chantal F.; Thompson, David R.; Hare, David L.; Stewart, Andrew G.; Watson, Roger

Abstract

Background: There is a high prevalence of depression in patients with heart failure (HF) that is associated with worsening prognosis. The value of using a reliable and valid instrument to measure depression in this population is therefore essential. We validated the Cardiac Depression Scale (CDS) in heart failure patients using a model of ordinal unidimensional measurement known as Mokken scaling. Findings: We administered in face-to-face interviews the CDS to 603 patients with HF. Data were analysed using Mokken scale analysis. Items of the CDS formed a statistically significant unidimensional Mokken scale of low strength (H<0.40) and high reliability (Rho>0.8). Conclusions: The CDS has a hierarchy of items which can be interpreted in terms of the increasingly serious effects of depression occurring as a result of HF. Identifying an appropriate instrument to measure depression in patients with HF allows for early identification and better medical management. Keywords: Cardiac Depression Scale, Heart failure, Depression, Mokken scaling

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 23, 2012
• Journal: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes
• Print ISSN: 1477-7525
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-7525
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: ARTN 141
• Pages: 141
• Institution Citation: Ski, C. F., Thompson, D. R., Hare, D. L., Stewart, A. G., & Watson, R. (2012). Cardiac Depression Scale: Mokken scaling in heart failure patients. Health and quality of life outcomes, 10(1), 141. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-10-141
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-10-141
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; General Medicine
• Publisher URL: http://www.hqlo.com/content/10/1/141