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Background: It has been proposed that the broad major depressive disorder (MDD) construct is heterogenous. Koukopoulos has provided diagnostic criteria for an important subtype within that construct, “mixed depression” (MxD), which encompasses clinical pictures characterized by marked psychomotor or inner excitation and rage/anger, along with severe depression. This study provides psychometric validation for the first rating scale specifically designed to assess MxD symptoms cross-sectionally, the Koukopoulos Mixed Depression Rating Scale (KMDRS). Methods: 350 patients from the international mood network (IMN) completed three rating scales: the KMDRS, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). KMDRS’ psychometric properties assessed included Cronbach's alpha, inter-rater reliability, factor analysis, predictive validity, and Receiver Operator Curve analysis. Results: Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.76; 95% CI 0.57, 0.94) and interrater reliability (kappa = 0.73) were adequate. Confirmatory factor analysis identified 2 components: anger and psychomotor excitation (80% of total variance). Good predictive validity was seen (C-statistic = 0.82 95% CI 0.68, 0.93). Severity cut-off scores identified were as follows: none (0–4), possible (5–9), mild (10–15), moderate (16–20) and severe (> 21) MxD. Limitations: Non DSM-based diagnosis of MxD may pose some difficulties in the initial use and interpretation of the scoring of the scale. Moreover, the cross-sectional nature of the evaluation does not verify the long-term stability of the scale. Conclusions: KMDRS was a reliable and valid instrument to assess MxD symptoms.

Item does not contain fulltext, Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy was carried out on stereoselectively synthesized polyalcohols. Depending upon the stereochemical orientation of their hydroxyl groups, the polyols can either feature linear chains of hydrogen bonds that are stable for extended periods of time or they can display ultrafast dynamics of hydrogen-bond breakage and formation. In the former case, the OH-stretching vibrations and their transition dipoles are substantially coupled, hence prior to vibrational relaxation, the initial OH-stretching excitation is rapidly redistributed among the set of hydroxyl-groups constituting the hydrogen-bonded chain. This redistribution is responsible for an ultrafast loss of memory regarding the frequency of initial excitation and as a result, a pump-frequency independent vibrational lifetime is observed. In contrast, in the latter case, the coupling of the OH-groups and their transition dipoles is much weaker. Therefore, the OH-stretching excitation remains localized on the initially excited oscillator for the time scale of vibrational energy relaxation. As a result inhomogeneous relaxation dynamics with a pump-frequency-dependent lifetime are observed.

Item does not contain fulltext, Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy was carried out on stereoselectively synthesized polyalcohols. Depending upon the stereochemical orientation of their hydroxyl groups, the polyols can either feature linear chains of hydrogen bonds that are stable for extended periods of time or they can display ultrafast dynamics of hydrogen-bond breakage and formation. In the former case, the OH-stretching vibrations and their transition dipoles are substantially coupled, hence prior to vibrational relaxation, the initial OH-stretching excitation is rapidly redistributed among the set of hydroxyl-groups constituting the hydrogen-bonded chain. This redistribution is responsible for an ultrafast loss of memory regarding the frequency of initial excitation and as a result, a pump-frequency independent vibrational lifetime is observed. In contrast, in the latter case, the coupling of the OH-groups and their transition dipoles is much weaker. Therefore, the OH-stretching excitation remains localized on the initially excited oscillator for the time scale of vibrational energy relaxation. As a result inhomogeneous relaxation dynamics with a pump-frequency-dependent lifetime are observed.