[Comparison of evaluation scales and performance tests for measuring the severity of cyclothymic depressions]

Usually the severeness of cyclothymical depression is assessed by self-or arbiter's evaluation scales. These assessments are influenced by - mainly verbal - disturbing variables that hitherto may hardly be controlled. Measurements of performance provide less falsified results. However, they are influenced by the premorbid level of general intelligence and by the age of the patient. These disturbing variables, however, can be controlled rather well. Empirical investigations show that the assessment of the severeness of cyclothymical depression measured by performance tests of evaluation scales leads to different results. Nevertheless, both types of tests are valid for measuring depressions. Therefore, both are to be taken into account for assessment of severeness.