RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Alterations of motor behavior in depression play a key role in psychosocial activities and interpersonal communication and are relevant for differential diagnosis and treatment. Functions and application of actigraphy and empirical findings in depression will be summarised and discussed. METHODS: The current knowledge retrieved from information of manufacturers, Medline, PsycLIT, and PSYNDEX regarding features of actigraphic equipment and clinical aspects of gross motor analysis in depression was examined. RESULTS: Actigraphy is a practical method to monitor and quantify gross motor activity, but setting variables including sensitivity or epoch length vary among commercially available instruments. Measures of motor activity in depressed patients are used for diagnosis, evaluation of sleep, and prediction of treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of motor behavior by actigraphy can be used in depression for diagnostic procedures and treatment evaluation. The role of actigraphic setting variables needs further clarification. Actigraphy may be used for behavioral analysis including individual regulation of motor activity as an objective parameter for evaluation of depression and other psychiatric disorders.
