Intent:
To record the person’s self-reported mood over the last three days. In some cases, the person may deny feeling a particular way in the last 3 days, but re-ports that the issue continues to be “present” and active.
Definition:
These items involve verbal reports of the person’s subjective evaluation of three dimensions of mood state (i.e., dysphoria, anxiety, anhedonia) over the last 3 days.
“In the last 3 days, how often have you felt . . .”
Little interest or pleasure in things you normally enjoy?
Anxious, restless, or uneasy?
Sad, depressed, or hopeless?
Process:
Ask the person the above questions directly once you have completed your own ratings of the person’s mood state using the other items in the Mood section of the assessment. Only the person’s responses should be used to rate each item. Do not code the items based on your own inferences about the person’s mood state and do not record ratings given by family, friends or other informants. These items should be treated strictly as self-report measures. If the person is unable (e.g., due to cognitive impairment) or refuses to respond, do not dwell on these items and do not impute responses for the person. Use code “8” in such a situation.
Coding:
Code each item using the person’s response as to whether/how often he or she experienced the feelings referenced in the items over the last 3 days, regardless of what the person believes to be the underlying cause of these feelings. Remember to code for both the presence of the indicator and the number of days in which it was felt no matter how often it was felt per day. Persons unable or unwilling to respond should be coded as an “8”.
Use the following codes:
0. Not in last 3 days
1. Not in last 3 days, but often feels that way
[Note, use this code only if the person indicates the feeling is present and active, but was not experienced in the last 3 days.]
2. In 1-2 of last 3 days
3. Daily in last 3 days
8. Person could not (would not) respond