- Title
- Comparison of a single self-assessment item with the PHQ-9 for detecting depression in general practice
- Creator
- Carey, Mariko; Jones, Kimberley A.; Yoong, Sze Lin; D'Este, Catherine; Boyes, Allison W.; Paul, Christine; Inder, Kerry J.; Sanson-Fisher, Rob
- Relation
- Family Practice Vol. 31, Issue 4, p. 483-489
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmu018
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2014
- Description
- Background: Several factors need to be considered when selecting a screening tool for depression including accuracy, level of burden for patients and for staff to administer and follow-up. Objective: This study aimed to explore the utility of a single self-assessment item in identifying possible cases of depression in primary care by examining sensitivity and specificity with the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at different thresholds. Design: Cross-sectional survey presented on a touchscreen computer. Participants: Adult patients attending 12 urban general practices in Australia completed a health status questionnaire (n = 1004). Main measures: Depression was assessed by the PHQ-9 and a single self-assessment item. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for the single item using a PHQ-9 score of 10 or more as the criterion value. Key results: A total of 1004 participants (61% female, 48% aged 55 years or older) completed both the PHQ-9 and a single self-assessment item. When using a threshold of mild depression or greater, the single item had adequate specificity (76%, 95% CI: 71–80%), with 76 out of every 100 people defined as non-depressed by the PHQ-9 also identified as not depressed by the single item. Sensitivity was high (91%, 95% CI: 84–95%), with the single item identifying 91 out of every 100 true cases (as defined by the PHQ-9). Conclusions: The single self-assessment item has high sensitivity and moderate specificity to identify possible cases of depression when used at a threshold of mild depression or greater.
- Subject
- primary care; depression/mood disorder; screening; mental health; psychiatry
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1302490
- Identifier
- uon:20480
- Identifier
- ISSN:1460-2229
- Language
- eng
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