scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Measurement of feelings using visual analogue scales.

01 Oct 1969-Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (Royal Society of Medicine Press)-Vol. 62, Iss: 10, pp 989-993
About: This article is published in Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.The article was published on 1969-10-01 and is currently open access. It has received 1444 citations till now.
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Robust and rapid antidepressant effects resulted from a single intravenous dose of an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist; onset occurred within 2 hours postinfusion and continued to remain significant for 1 week.
Abstract: Context Existing therapies for major depression have a lag of onset of action of several weeks, resulting in considerable morbidity. Exploring pharmacological strategies that have rapid onset of antidepressant effects within a few days and that are sustained would have an enormous impact on patient care. Converging lines of evidence suggest the role of the glutamatergic system in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders. Objective To determine whether a rapid antidepressant effect can be achieved with an antagonist at theN-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in subjects with major depression. Design A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study from November 2004 to September 2005. Setting Mood Disorders Research Unit at the National Institute of Mental Health. Patients Eighteen subjects withDSM-IVmajor depression (treatment resistant). Interventions After a 2-week drug-free period, subjects were given an intravenous infusion of either ketamine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg) or placebo on 2 test days, a week apart. Subjects were rated at baseline and at 40, 80, 110, and 230 minutes and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days postinfusion. Main Outcome Measure Changes in scores on the primary efficacy measure, the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Results Subjects receiving ketamine showed significant improvement in depression compared with subjects receiving placebo within 110 minutes after injection, which remained significant throughout the following week. The effect size for the drug difference was very large (d = 1.46 [95% confidence interval, 0.91-2.01]) after 24 hours and moderate to large (d = 0.68 [95% confidence interval, 0.13-1.23]) after 1 week. Of the 17 subjects treated with ketamine, 71% met response and 29% met remission criteria the day following ketamine infusion. Thirty-five percent of subjects maintained response for at least 1 week. Conclusions Robust and rapid antidepressant effects resulted from a single intravenous dose of anN-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist; onset occurred within 2 hours postinfusion and continued to remain significant for 1 week. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00088699.

2,965 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The VAS method has potential utility for the measurement of a variety of clinical phenomena of interest to nurse investigators and conceptual, psychometric, and statistical aspects of the VAS are considered.
Abstract: Visual analogue scales (VAS) have been used in the social and behavioral sciences to measure a variety of subjective phenomena. The VAS method has potential utility for the measurement of a variety of clinical phenomena of interest to nurse investigators. In this review a description of the various forms of the VAS and an historical overview of their development are presented. In addition, conceptual, psychometric, and statistical aspects of the VAS are considered. Finally, strengths and limitations of the VAS method are addressed.

2,336 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Decisions concerning the choice of scoring interval, experimental design, and statistical analysis for VAS have in some instances been based on convention, assumption and convenience, highlighting the need for more comprehensive assessment of individual scales if this versatile and sensitive measurement technique is to be used to full advantage.
Abstract: Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) provide a simple technique for measuring subjective experience. They have been established as valid and reliable in a range of clinical and research applications, although there is also evidence of increased error and decreased sensitivity when used with some subject groups. Decisions concerned with the choice of scoring interval, experimental design, and statistical analysis for VAS have in some instances been based on convention, assumption and convenience, highlighting the need for more comprehensive assessment of individual scales if this versatile and sensitive measurement technique is to be used to full advantage.

1,792 citations

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
S. S. Stevens1
07 Jun 1946-Science
TL;DR: The current issues will remain at 32 pages until a more adequate supply of paper is assured, due to a shortage of paper for Bacto-Agar research.
Abstract: The current issues will remain at 32 pages until we are assured of a more adequate supply ofpaper. Bacto-Agar is a purified Agar prepared from domestic material. In the manufacture of Bacto-Agar extraneous matter, pigmented portions, and salts are reduced to a minimum, so that the finished product in the form of fine granules will dissolve rapidly, giving clear solutions. Bacto-Asparagine Bacto-Asparagine is a purified amino acid widely used in synthetic culture media and in the preparation of tuberculin.

4,080 citations

Book
01 Jan 1949

645 citations

Journal ArticleDOI

405 citations