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Case-finding instruments for depression

Two questions are as good as many

Journal of General Internal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To determine the validity of a two-question case-finding instrument for depression as compared with six previously validated instruments.

Design

The test characteristics of a two-question case-fidning instrument that asks about depressed mood and anhedonia were compared with six common case-finding instruments, using the Quick Diagnostic Interview Schedule as a criterion standard for the diagnosis of major depression.

Setting

Urgent care clinic at the San Francisco Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Participants

Five hundred thirty-six consecutive adult patients without mania or schizophrenia.

Measurements and main results

Measurements were two questions from the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders patient questionnaire, both the long and short forms of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, both the long and short forms of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Symptom-Driven Diagnostic System for Primary Care, the Medical Outcomes Study depression measure, and the Quick Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The prevalence of depression, as determined by the standardized interview, was 18% (97 of 536). Overall, the case-finding instruments had sensitivities of 89% to 96% and specificities of 51% to 72% for diagnosing major depression. A positive response to the two-item instrument had a sensitivity of 96% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90–99%) and a specificity of 57% (95% CI 53–62%). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were similar for all of the instruments, with a range of 0.82 to 0.89.

Conclusions

The two-question case-finding instrument is a useful measure for detecting depression in primary care. It has similar test characteristics to other case-finding instruments and is less time-consuming.

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Supported by grants from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Research Evaluation and Allocation Committee: an Individual Investigator grant from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Academic Senate Committee on Research; and a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Locally Initiated Programs.

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Whooley, M.A., Avins, A.L., Miranda, J. et al. Case-finding instruments for depression. J GEN INTERN MED 12, 439–445 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.00076.x

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