A brief instrument for longitudinal monitoring of mood states.

We describe the development of a practical instrument for longitudinal assessment of affective symptoms in large samples. An 11-item questionnaire was completed twice daily by normal and affectively disordered subjects for 90 days to determine which subjective states to measure; and to compare the 100 mm visual analogue format with a segmented visual analogue format on morning and evening ratings. The final instrument consists of three bipolar ratings--mood, anxiety, and energy levels--on a segmented visual analogue format, plus hours of sleep. It is administered once a day, in the morning. The instrument has high subject and rating compliance for studying infradian cycles.