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Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis.

Levis, Brooke and Benedetti, Andrea and Thombs, Brett D (2019) Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 365. pp. 1-11. ISSN 1756-1833

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To determine the accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression.

DESIGN

Individual participant data meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Medline In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (January 2000-February 2015).

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Eligible studies compared PHQ-9 scores with major depression diagnoses from validated diagnostic interviews. Primary study data and study level data extracted from primary reports were synthesized. For PHQ-9 cut-off scores 5-15, bivariate random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity, separately, among studies that used semistructured diagnostic interviews, which are designed for administration by clinicians; fully structured interviews, which are designed for lay administration; and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric (MINI) diagnostic interviews, a brief fully structured interview. Sensitivity and specificity were examined among participant subgroups and, separately, using meta-regression, considering all subgroup variables in a single model.

RESULTS

Data were obtained for 58 of 72 eligible studies (total n=17 357; major depression cases n=2312). Combined sensitivity and specificity was maximized at a cut-off score of 10 or above among studies using a semistructured interview (29 studies, 6725 participants; sensitivity 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.92; specificity 0.85, 0.82 to 0.88). Across cut-off scores 5-15, sensitivity with semistructured interviews was 5-22% higher than for fully structured interviews (MINI excluded; 14 studies, 7680 participants) and 2-15% higher than for the MINI (15 studies, 2952 participants). Specificity was similar across diagnostic interviews. The PHQ-9 seems to be similarly sensitive but may be less specific for younger patients than for older patients; a cut-off score of 10 or above can be used regardless of age..

CONCLUSIONS

PHQ-9 sensitivity compared with semistructured diagnostic interviews was greater than in previous conventional meta-analyses that combined reference standards. A cut-off score of 10 or above maximized combined sensitivity and specificity overall and for subgroups.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42014010673.


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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Levis, Brooke
Benedetti, Andrea
Thombs, Brett D
Date: 9 April 2019
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
Volume: 365
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
Page Range: pp. 1-11
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1136/bmj.l1476
Schools and Programs: School of Social Work > Social Work
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 1756-1833
Official URL: https://www.bmj.com/content/365/bmj.l1476
Article Type: Research Article
Date Deposited: 23 May 2024 12:11
Last Modified: 23 May 2024 12:11
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46431

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