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Background: The Young Mania Rating Scale is the most widely used tool for the assessment of the intensity of manic symptoms. Unfortunately, to date, there was no Spanish validated version available. This study validated the Spanish version of the YMRS., Patients and Method: A sample of 541 DSM-IV manic or hypomanic bipolar patients were recruited in 56 different psychiatric settings in Spain and assessed with the YMRS by 112 clinicians specifically trained in its use on days 1, 7, 14, 30, 45 and at 3 and 6 months. The mania subscale of the Clinical Global Impression for Bipolar Disorders was also performed in order to have a standard measure to compare our results. Feasibility, reliability, validity and sensitivity of the YMRS were analysed., Results: The YMRS Spanish version showed reliability index of 0.88 (internal consistency) and 0.76 (test-retest reliability), and good internal validity and external (p < 0.001) when compared to the mania subscale of the Modified Clinical Global Impression. The results also showed good sensitivity and feasibility., Conclusions: The YMRS Spanish Version is a useful, valid and reliable tool for the assessment of manic symptoms.

Accurately evaluating alterations in sexual functioning requires a validated instrument that measures clinically relevant change over time. One-hundred one depressed patients from 15 Spanish out-patient clinics completed the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CFSQ; Clayton, McGarvey, & Clavet, 1997) at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with fluoxetine, nefazodone, paroxetine, or venlafaxine. Sexual desire/interest showed a nearly substantial floor effect (30% of patients indicated the maximum score) for women in the nefazodone group at baseline and in the paroxetine group at final visit. The percentage of dimensions recording change was greater for women (80%) than for men (20%) in the nefazodone group (improving changes) and greater for men (40%) than for women (20%) in the paroxetine group (worsening changes). Highest effect sizes were found on sexual desire/frequency with improvement in women in the nefazodone group (SES = 0.49), and on orgasm/ejaculation with worsening in men in the paroxetine group (SES = -1.45). In conclusion, the CSFQ is sensitive to bidirectional changes and is appropriate for measuring sexual dysfunction.