Abstract
Existing self-report measures for measuring the severity of a depression are not very specific for the disorder concerned. Especially the low divergent validity with regard to anxiety disorders is a problem; a number of reasons are clarified in this article. Attention is paid to a theoretical model concerning the role of positive and negative affectivity in depression and anxiety. This model offers an additional opportunity for differentiating both disorders based on specific profiles of affectivity. A self-report measure for measuring affectivity (the PANAS) is presented. Concluding, a report will follow of research with a Dutch translation of this measure with healthy volunteers and depressed patients. The reliability and validity appeared satisfactory. In addition a depression specific profile could be replicated in a group of depressed patients.
| Original language | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 240-250 |
| Journal | Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie |
| Volume | 38 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |