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Measuring exercise-induced mood changes in fibromyalgia: a comparison of several measures
S E Gowans1, A DeHueck, S E Abbey
1University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. sue.gowans@uhn.on.ca
Objective:
To compare scales measuring exercise-induced changes in mood.
Methods:
Mood changes in a randomized, 23-week controlled trial of exercise were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and the Mental Health Inventory (MHI). Effect sizes and t-tests were computed on 23-week change scores. Scales were deemed to be confounded if items addressed sleep disturbances, fatigue, or effort (symptoms of both mood disturbances and fibromyalgia).
Results:
Efficacy (15 exercise subjects) and intent-to-treat analyses (27 exercise subjects) generated medium effects for BDI (total, cognitive), MHI depression (efficacy only), and CES-D (intent-to-treat only) scales. BDI (total, cognitive), MHI (depression, positive affect, total [MHI-5]), and STAI scales distinguished exercise from control subjects at 23 weeks in all analyses. BDI somatic and CES-D scales were deemed to be confounded.
Conclusion:
We recommend the BDI cognitive, STAI, and MHI-5 scales to measure depression, anxiety, and general mood, respectively, in patients with fibromyalgia.