The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire

The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) is an inventory tool that measures depressive symptoms in children and young adults. The questionnaire consists of a variety of statements describing feelings or behaviors that may manifest as depressive symptoms in children. 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]

Question breakdown, scoring and interpretation

The MFQ is scored by summing together the point values of responses for each item. The response choices and their designated point values are as follows:

  • 0 points: "not true"
  • 1 point: "somewhat true"
  • 2 points: "true"

Scores on the short version of the MFQ range from 0 to 26, while scores on the long version range from 0 to 66. Higher scores on the MFQ suggest more severe depressive symptoms. Scoring a 12 or higher on the short version and a 27 or higher on the long version may indicate the presence of depression in the child.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Kent, L; Vostanis, P; Feehan, C (July 1997). "Detection of major and minor depression in children and adolescents: evaluation of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. 38 (5): 565–73. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01543.x. PMID 9255700.
  2. ↑ Daviss, WB; Birmaher, B; Melhem, NA; Axelson, DA; Michaels, SM; Brent, DA (September 2006). "Criterion validity of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for depressive episodes in clinic and non-clinic subjects". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. 47 (9): 927–34. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01646.x. PMID 16930387.
  3. ↑ Wood, A; Kroll, L; Moore, A; Harrington, R (February 1995). "Properties of the mood and feelings questionnaire in adolescent psychiatric outpatients: a research note". Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines. 36 (2): 327–34. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.1995.tb01828.x. PMID 7759594.

Further reading

  • Birmaher, Boris; Brent, David; AACAP Work Group on Quality Issues (November 2007). "Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Depressive Disorders" (PDF). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 46 (11): 1503–1526. doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e318145ae1c. PMID 18049300.
  • "The MFQ". Center for Developmental Epidemiology. Duke University Health System. — Information about the MFQ along with PDF downloads of self- and parent-rated child MFQ and self-rated adult MFQ in both short and long versions.


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