The EQ-5D and SF-36 achieved mixed results in the quantitative testing against psychometric criteria .
The qualitative analysis suggests this is because they provide a very limited coverage of themes identified by people with mental health problems .
BACKGROUND Generic preference-based measures of health like the EQ-5D and SF-6D ( ® ) are increasingly being used in economic evaluation and outcome assessment .
However , there are concerns as to whether or not these generic measures are appropriate for use in people with mental health problems .
OBJECTIVES The EQ-5D and SF-36 ( ® ) ( including its derivatives the SF-12 ( ® ) and SF-6D ) were assessed using the psychometric criteria of validity and responsiveness using quantitative and qualitative methods .
Another aim was to estimate mapping functions between the EQ-5D and SF-6D and condition-specific measures , where appropriate .
Quality of life outcomes among patients with depression after 6 months of starting treatment: results from FINDER.
BACKGROUND Health-related quality of life ( HRQoL ) data in depression are limited . We studied the impact of antidepressant ( AD ) treatment on HRQoL outcomes in depressed patients and investigated factors associated with these outcomes in routine practice setting s. METHODS The Factors Influencing Depression Endpoints Research ( FINDER ) study was a 6-month , European , prospect i ve , observational study , design ed to estimate HRQoL in 3468 adult patients with a clinical ly diagnosed episode of depression at baseline and at 3 and 6-months after commencing AD treatment .  HRQoL was assessed by the Medical Outcome Short-Form ( 36 ) Health Survey ( SF-36 ) and European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions ( EQ-5D ) . Regression analysis identified baseline and treatment variables independently and significantly associated with HRQoL outcomes . RESULTS Most HRQoL improvement occurred within 3 months of starting treatment . Better HRQoL outcomes were strongly associated with fewer somatic symptoms at baseline , AD treatment taken and not switching within AD groups . Education and occupational status were also important . Depression variables ( number of previous depressions and current episode duration ) were consistently associated with worse HRQoL outcomes . Self-rated depression severity was associated with poorer outcomes on the SF-36 mental component only . LIMITATIONS As this was an observational study , the important finding that between and within AD group switching impacted HRQoL will need to be investigated in more controlled setting s. CONCLUSIONS Receiving an AD treatment was associated with large improvements in HRQoL , but switching within AD groups was consistently associated with poorer outcomes . Somatic symptoms , including painful symptoms , are often present in depressed patients and appear to negatively impact HRQoL outcomes
The EQ-5D and SF-36 achieved mixed results in the quantitative testing against psychometric criteria .
The qualitative analysis suggests this is because they provide a very limited coverage of themes identified by people with mental health problems .
BACKGROUND Generic preference-based measures of health like the EQ-5D and SF-6D ( ® ) are increasingly being used in economic evaluation and outcome assessment .
However , there are concerns as to whether or not these generic measures are appropriate for use in people with mental health problems .
OBJECTIVES The EQ-5D and SF-36 ( ® ) ( including its derivatives the SF-12 ( ® ) and SF-6D ) were assessed using the psychometric criteria of validity and responsiveness using quantitative and qualitative methods .
Another aim was to estimate mapping functions between the EQ-5D and SF-6D and condition-specific measures , where appropriate .