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Instrument Summary for Hypertension

Please note that this section is an archive and is no longer being updated.

Development: The Physical Symptoms Distress Index (PSDI) is a modified version of a questionnaire used in previous clinical trials described by the authors.¹ As described in the 1999 article cited below,² the instrument consists of a list of 73 symptoms associated with hypertension or antihypertensive medications. Respondents are asked to rate each symptom on a 6-point scale to indicate the extent to which the symptom has been bothersome (if at all) during the past month.

Purpose: The PSDI is a measure of patient-assessed distress due to physical symptoms associated with hypertension and/or its treatment.

Useful Facts: The PSDI is a self-administered questionnaire. Two items are gender-specific and apply only to male respondents. Item ratings can be summed to generate a total score. The PSDI is not a single uniform instrument, but rather a compilation of various items that have been customized for various measurement purposes. Other versions of the PSDI, differing in number of items, have appeared in several other publications. The measure has also been referenced as the “Symptoms Distress Index” and “Physical Complaints Inventory Scale.”

VA Relevance: No published studies were found showing the use of the PSDI among the veteran population.

Availability: The PSDI was developed by CoMMensa, Inc., which develops customized instruments to assess symptom distress. For further information, contact Richard Anderson, Ed.D. (commensa@alum.mit.edu).

References:

1. Croog SH, Levine S, Testa MA, Brown B, Bulpitt CJ, Jenkins CD, Klerman GL, Williams GH. The effects of antihypertensive therapy on the quality of life. N Engl J Med 1986;314:1657-1664. [Abstract ]
2. Anderson RB, Hollenberg NK, Williams GH. Physical Symptoms Distress Index: a sensitive tool to evaluate the impact of pharmacological agents on quality of life. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:693-700. [Abstract ]
3. Hollenberg NK, Williams GH, Anderson R. Medical therapy, symptoms, and the distress they case: relation to quality of life in patients with angina pectoris and/or hypertension. Arch Intern Med 2000;160:1477-1483. [Abstract ]

Development: The Vital Signs Quality of Life Questionnaire (VSQLQ) was developed by Kong and colleagues in 1990. The measure consists of 25 items that assess sense of well-being, perceptions of general health, mental functioning, emotional state, and social performance. There are no subscales. Notably, this questionnaire has been examined particularly for its appropriateness for use with Black/African-American patients.

Purpose: The VSQLQ was developed to assess the effects of medical treatment on functioning and well-being among hypertensive patients.

Useful Facts: The VSQLQ can be self-administered or administered by an interviewer. Each item is scored on two different dimensions (frequency and intensity of the symptom or concern). The scores for frequency and intensity are summed separately for total scores ranging from 0 to 100 each.

VA Relevance: No published studies were found showing the use of the VSQLQ among the veteran population.

Availability: The questionnaire is published as an appendix to an article written by Kong and colleagues in 1995.²

References:

1. Kong BW, Slive J, Kong SH. Quality of life as a vital clinical sign. J Hum Hypertens 1990;4:121-123.
2. Kong BW, Bean JA, Stephens D. Assessment of the Vital Signs Quality of Life Questionnaire in three studies on hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 1995;9:255-262. [Abstract ]
3. Leidy NK, Schmier JK, Bonomi AE, Legro M, Zyczynski T, Kong BW. Psychometric properties of the VSQLQ in black patients with mild hypertension. J Nat Med Assoc 2000;92:550-557. [Abstract ]