A questionnaire is presented that is based on a new psychobiological model of depression (Mitterauer, 2009). We hypothesize that a patient suffering from a depressive disorder loses the ability to produce one or more modes of behavior at a given point in time and simultaneously has the urge to produce one or more other modes of behavior constantly. in addition, the patient is unable to interpret his behavioral disorder.

The object of this study was to validate the new questionnaire “Salzburg Subjective Behavioral Analysis” (SSBA) for the purpose of screening major depressive disorder (MDD) among primary care patients.

Participants were 30 adult inpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD. the participants were asked to complete the SSBA questionnaire together with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Furthermore the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) was assessed. the control group consisted of 32 students who did not meet criteria for MDD.

The discriminant function of the SSBA enables with a high probability the attribution of a person either to the MDD-group or to the symptomless group. It can also be shown that the SSBA significantly correlates with depression relevant criteria of other standard instruments for theassessment of depression.

The SSBA seem valid for detecting MDD among primary care patients.