User:Kevin McHugh/sandbox

= Mood and Feelings Questionnaire =

Informational Background
The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) is an inventory tool that measures depressive symptoms in children and young adults which was developed by Adrian Angold and Elizabeth J. Costello in 1987. The questionnaire consists of a variety of statements describing feelings or behaviors that may manifest as depressive symptoms in children between the ages of 6 and 17. The subject is asked to indicate how much each statement applies to their recent experiences. The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire is created both in the form of a self-report questionnaire for the child to complete as well as a parent questionnaire.[1] There is a short version (13 questions) and a long version (33 questions) of both child and parent forms of the MFQ. Several peer-reviewed studies have found the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire to be a reliable and valid measure of depression in children.[2]

MFQ Scoring and Interpretation
The MFQ has several tests, one short and one long, with the short questionnaire being 13 question and the long questionnaire consisting of 33 questions. Scoring of the MFQ works by summing the point values allocated to each question. The responses and their allocated point values are as follows:

"not true" = 0 points

"somewhat true" = 1 point

"true" = 2 points

Scores on the short MFQ range from 0 to 26, whereas scores on the long version range from 0 to 66. Higher score are indicative of increased depressive symptom severity. Scores larger than 12 on the short version and scores larger than 27 on the long version are suggestive of likely depression and warrant further clinical assessment.

Validity
The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, along with the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire shows reasonable psychometric properties for identifying children in early adolescence with a depressive disorder. Secondly, the MFQ does not significantly differentiate between children with depression versus children with anxiety disorders. Finally, the MFQ has been translated into Arabic, Spanish and Norwegian, but testing of these versions is more limited.

Limitations
Questionnaires like the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire should not act as a substitute for thorough clinical evaluations for both the child and parent.