The empirical redefinition of the psychometric criteria for remission in bipolar disorder

Abstract

Background: Current definitions of remission for mania and bipolar depression are convention-rather than empirically-based, and their clinical salience is unclear, as few studies have attempted to calibrate them against objective clinical criteria. This study aimed to determine equivalence scores on two widely used clinical rating scales, the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), that corresponded with an objective global clinical measure of remission in bipolar disorder patients. Methods: Data from four pharmacological randomised controlled trials in bipolar I disorder were analysed. Two trials were conducted for bipolar depression (N = 410 a..