Are single item mood scales (SIMS) valid for people with traumatic brain injury?

Objectives: Single-item mood scales (SIMS) are used in clinical practice and research as simple and convenient measures to track mood and response to interventions but have rarely been formally evaluated in neurological samples. The current study sought to evaluate the psychometric properties of SIMS in verbal and visual formats. Participants: Sixty-one people living in community settings in metropolitan and regional Australia, with a history of traumatic brain injury. Methods: SIMS were compared with measures of related constructs (depressed mood and satisfaction with life) on two occasions between one and three weeks apart. Results: The study met COSMIN method quality criteria for evaluation of validity. The SIMS showed evidence of construct validity, having moderate magnitude correlation coefficients with measures of similar constructs, and conversely low and non-significant correlation with dissimilar constructs. There was also evidence of discriminant validity, with significant differences based on diagnostic status (participants with depression rated SIMS lower). Correlation coefficients on the SIMS between Times 1 and 2 were of moderate magnitude, with a small but statistically significant increase in mean ratings. Conclusions: the data support the SIMS as a valid measure that can be administered to track changes in mood in clinical practice and research.