Table 3.
The 26-Item Melancholia Symptom List and Total CORE Scores
| Symptom | Value (Yes:No) | Effect on Total CORE Score (Mean ± SD, t-test) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Items for the DSM-5 melancholia criteria1 | |||
| Loss of pleasure | 63: 43 | Yes (17.8 ± 9.3) vs no (9.9 ± 7.1) | <0.001 |
| Lack of reactivity | 64: 42 | Yes (17.2 ± 9.5) vs no (10.6 ± 7.4) | <0.001 |
| Distinct quality of depressed mood | 66: 40 | Yes (17.2 ± 9.4) vs no (10.4 ± 7.3) | <0.001 |
| Depression that is regularly worse in the morning | 41: 65 | Yes (16.1 ± 9.7) vs no (13.7 ± 9.0) | 0.196 |
| Early morning awakening | 37: 69 | Yes (15.8 ± 9.0) vs no (14.0 ± 9.4) | 0.328 |
| Marked psychomotor agitation or retardation | 49: 57 | Yes (19.8 ± 9.4) vs no (10.2 ± 6.5) | <0.001 |
| Significant anorexia or weight loss | 61: 45 | Yes (16.2 ± 9.8) vs no (12.4 ± 8.1) | 0.035 |
| Excessive or inappropriate guilt | 27: 79 | Yes (20.2 ± 11.0) vs no (12.7 ± 7.8) | 0.002 |
| Items considered as characteristic of melancholia or endogenous depression | |||
| Feeling of having lost feeling19,21 | 24: 82 | Yes (23.4 ± 8.7) vs no (12.0 ± 7.7) | <0.001 |
| Abnormal physical sensation in the chest (vital sadness)19 | 62: 44 | Yes (15.1 ± 8.7) vs no (14.0 ± 10.0) | 0.560 |
| Abnormal physical sensation in the head or extremities (vital sadness)19 | 14: 92 | Yes (13.7 ± 7.5) vs no (14.7 ± 9.5) | 0.702 |
| Perplexity21 | 67: 39 | Yes (17.3 ± 9.9) vs no (10.4 ± 6.2) | <0.001 |
| Indecisiveness20 | 77: 29 | Yes (16.8 ± 9.3) vs no (8.8 ± 6.3) | <0.001 |
| Self-reproach19,21 | 44: 62 | Yes (18.5 ± 9.3) vs no (11.8 ± 8.2) | <0.001 |
| Repeated anxiety about excretion, such as constipation34 | 10: 96 | Yes (19.3 ± 10.0) vs no (14.1 ± 9.1) | 0.092 |
| Depressive delusions19 | 7: 99 | Yes (29.4 ± 8.0) vs no (13.6 ± 8.4) | <0.001 |
| Items considered as characteristic of non-melancholic depression | |||
| Binge eating† | 5: 101 | Yes (7.2 ± 5.7) vs no (15.0 ± 9.3) | 0.067 |
| Abuse of alcohol or drugs† | 3: 103 | Yes (13.0 ± 7.6) vs no (14.7 ± 9.3) | 0.762 |
| Poor treatment compliance† | 3: 103 | Yes (11.0 ± 13.1) vs no (14.7 ± 9.2) | 0.497 |
| Shedding tears during an interview35 | 31: 75 | Yes (14.0 ± 8.7) vs no (14.9 ± 9.5) | 0.668 |
| Depressive symptoms varying from day to day36 | 5: 101 | Yes (10.0 ± 6.0) vs no (14.8 ± 9.4) | 0.257 |
| Aggression against others37 | 8: 98 | Yes (5.3 ± 3.5) vs no (15.4 ± 9.2) | <0.001 |
| Autonomic symptoms38 | |||
| Hyperventilation | 24: 82 | Yes (14.9 ± 8.4) vs no (14.5 ± 9.5) | 0.871 |
| Headache | 26: 80 | Yes (14.4 ± 8.0) vs no (14.7 ± 9.7) | 0.871 |
| Nausea | 16: 90 | Yes (12.9 ± 7.0) vs no (14.9 ± 9.6) | 0.437 |
| Palpitations | 36: 70 | Yes (14.8 ± 8.8) vs no (14.5 ± 9.5) | 0.890 |
Notes: Data are presented as means ± SD or numbers. P-values were calculated using the two-sample t-test. †Items listed based on the opinion of Japanese experts.
Abbreviation: DSM-5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.