Brief Description
The BDRS is a clinician-administered assessment designed to evaluate depressive symptoms in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It captures key features of bipolar depression, including atypical and mixed features, which may not be adequately assessed by other depression scales. During the assessment, the clinician asks respondents to rate the frequency and severity of their symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, suicidal ideation, and low mood, over the last few days on a scale of 0 "Nil” to 3 "Severe.”
Assessment Administration Type
Clinician-Administered
Number of questions
20
Age Range for Administration
18+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
No recommended standard frequency; Blueprint recommends administration at baseline and then at regular intervals (e.g., monthly) based on clinical needs and treatment response.
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
The BDRS is scored on a 4-point Likert scale with response options from 0 (“Nil”) to 3 (“Severe”). Total scores range from 0 to 60 with higher scores indicating greater severity of bipolar depression. Although no universal clinical cut-off exists, higher scores typically suggest the need for closer clinical monitoring and intervention.
Blueprint Adjustments
Questions 2 (Sleep Disturbance) and 3 (Appetite Disturbance) on the original measure have been split up into separate questions within Blueprint’s platform. Please note that clinicians should respond to only one of the two Sleep Disturbance questions and only one of the questions on Appetite Disturbance. The clinician has the ability to skip these questions, but one should be selected.
Clinical Considerations
Estimated completion time: Length of time for administration should be factored into clinical workflow planning. Estimated times vary based on clinical complexity and patient response in answering the questions.
Administration requires a trained clinician for accuracy. Clinicians can reference the Rater Manual for detailed information on delivering this assessment.
Bipolar depression often includes atypical features (e.g., hypersomnia, hyperphagia) and mixed symptoms (e.g., agitation, irritability). The BDRS is designed to capture these, but clinicians should interpret results in context with patient history.
The BDRS does not replace a formal diagnosis but serves as an assessment tool to measure symptom severity. It can help in monitoring treatment response over time, especially when used regularly.
Consider cultural and linguistic factors that may affect the patient’s understanding of questions.
Clinicians often tailor the frequency of BDRS assessments based on individual patient needs and clinical judgment. This personalized approach ensures that the assessment aligns with the patient's current condition and treatment objectives.
Citation
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