Development and validation of the 22-item Tarumi's Modern-Type Depression Trait Scale: Avoidance of Social Roles, Complaint, and Low Self-Esteem (TACS-22)

Takahiro A. Kato, Ryoko Katsuki, Hiroaki Kubo, Norihiro Shimokawa, Mina Sato-Kasai, Kohei Hayakawa, Nobuki Kuwano, Wakako Umene-Nakano, Masaru Tateno, Daiki Setoyama, Dongchon Kang, Motoki Watabe, Shinji Sakamoto, Alan R. Teo, Shigenobu Kanba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aim: Understanding premorbid personality is important, especially when considering treatment selection. Historically, the premorbid personality of patients with major depression in Japan was described as Shuchaku-kishitsu [similar to Typus melancholicus], as proposed by Shimoda in the 1930s. Since around 2000, there have been increased reports in Japan of young adults with depression who have had premorbid personality differing from the traditional type. In 2005, Tarumi termed this novel condition ‘dysthymic-type depression,’ and more recently the condition has been called Shin-gata/Gendai-gata Utsu-byo [modern-type depression (MTD)]. We recently developed a semi-structured diagnostic interview to evaluate MTD. Development of a tool that enables understanding of premorbid personality in a short time, especially at the early stage of treatment, is desirable. The object of this study was to develop a self-report scale to evaluate the traits of MTD, and to assess the scale's psychometric properties, diagnostic accuracy, and biological validity. Methods: A sample of 340 participants from clinical and community settings completed measures. Psychometric properties were assessed with factor analysis. Diagnostic accuracy of the MTD traits was compared against a semi-structured interview. Results: The questionnaire contained 22 items across three subscales, thus we termed it the 22-item Tarumi's Modern-Type Depression Trait Scale: Avoidance of Social Roles, Complaint, and Low Self-Esteem (TACS-22). Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity were all satisfactory. Among patients with major depression, the area under the curve was 0.757 (sensitivity of 63.1% and specificity of 82.9%) and the score was positively correlated with plasma tryptophan. Conclusion: The TACS-22 possessed adequate psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy in an initial sample of Japanese adults. Additional research on its ability to support clinical assessment of MTD is warranted.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)448-457
Number of pages10
JournalPsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Volume73
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Keywords

  • dysthymic-type depression
  • hikikomori
  • major depressive disorder
  • melancholic-type depression
  • premorbid personality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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