[The connection between videoanalytic regular measurements of non-verbal behavior and self-assessed mood]

13 manic-depressive patients were examined during a symptom-free interval while under treatment with lithium, and again after a 6-week placebo period. The results are based on a behavioral analysis of video-taped interviews as well as a self-rating of mood with a multidimensional questionnaire (Hecheltjen & Mertesdorf, MSF). This questionnaire was presented on the day of the interviews. The following parameters were examined: 1. Duration of speech activity, 2. Frequency of hand movements accompanying speech, 3. Frequency of discrete body touchings. In order to clarify the interdependency of these behavioral parameters and to obtain an external validation against mood measures we investigated how far these values change when comparing the two examinations. Significant relationships were found between: a) the relative duration of speech activity and the relative frequency of hand movements accompanying speech, b) these two parameters and the mood dimensions "social affection" and "relaxation", whereas the 5% level and barely missed for "activity" and "good mood". A tendency was noted towards a negative relationship with the dimension "anxiety". No connection could be established for the dimensions "fatigue", "depression", "boredom", "anger", "lightheartedness" and "nervousness". The category of discrete body touchings did not show a relation with either of the other behavioral parameters or with the mood dimensions. Finally, we might point out the low sensitivity of the conventional scales for the course evaluation of depression, and the advantage of the behavioral procedure which is sensitive even in the subclinical range. Moreover, the latter approach has a theoretical impact on the fundamental question of the physiological basis of manic-depressive illness.