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Mood variability: a study of four groups
R W Cowdry1, D L Gardner, K M O'Leary
1Clinical and Research Services Branch, NIMH, Bethesda, Md.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Mood regulation patterns vary significantly across major depression, borderline personality disorder, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) compared to controls. These mood disorders exhibit distinct variability, suggesting different underlying mood stability mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Mood Disorders
- Mental Health
Background:
- Mood regulation is crucial for mental well-being.
- Distinct psychiatric conditions like major depression, borderline personality disorder, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involve altered mood states.
- Understanding mood variability patterns can differentiate these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in self-rated mood regulation patterns.
- To compare mood variability among patients with major depression, borderline personality disorder, PMS, and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 14-day visual analog scale mood self-ratings (morning and evening).
- Analyzed data from 65 female subjects across four groups: major depression, borderline personality disorder, PMS, and normal controls.
- Calculated mean, standard deviation, and daily/diurnal mood changes for each subject.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in mood and mood variability were found across all groups, except diurnal variation.
- Major depression group showed lowest mood ratings and low variability.
- Borderline personality disorder group exhibited high mood variability, with random daily fluctuations; PMS group had greater variability than controls.
Conclusions:
- Visual analog scale effectively captures mood and variability patterns characteristic of diagnostic groups.
- Mood disorders are distinguished by both abnormal mood levels and unique variability patterns.
- Divergent mood regulation mechanisms may underlie different mood disorders.