TY - JOUR
T1 - Validity of the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 to screen for depression in nationwide primary care population in Latvia
AU - Rancans, Elmars
AU - Trapencieris, Marcis
AU - Ivanovs, Rolands
AU - Vrublevska, Jelena
N1 - Funding Information:
The current study was carried out in 2015 within the framework of the National Research Program, BIOMEDICINE 2014–2017, a cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of mental disorders in primary care settings in Latvia. The study recruited patients from 24 primary care facilities all over the country that covered all regions of Latvia. The survey was conducted in the two most commonly spoken languages in Latvia (Latvian and Russian). The programme was financed by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science. The main aim of this programme is to develop new prevention, treatment, and diagnostic methods and practices, as well as biomedical technologies to improve public health in Latvia. The programme has existed since 2007 and comprises certain areas: cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, oncological diseases, and childhood and infectious diseases. Mental health was included in the programme for the first time.
Funding Information:
The study was supported by The National Research Programme BIOMEDICINE 2014–2017 (Nr. 5.8.1.).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).
PY - 2018/8/2
Y1 - 2018/8/2
N2 - Background: Depression is highly underdiagnosed in primary care settings in Latvia. Screening for depression in primary care is potentially an efficient way to find undetected case s and improve diagnostics. We aimed to validate both a nine-item and two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 and PHQ-2) in the Latvian and Russian languages in primary care settings using a representative sample in Latvia. Materials and methods: The study was carried out within the framework of the National Research Program BIOMEDICINE to assess the prevalence of mental disorders at 24 primary care facilities. During a 1-week period, all consecutive adult patients were invited to complete the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2. Criterion validity was assessed against the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: There were 1467 patients who completed the PHQ-9 and the MINI. Overall, the PHQ-9 items showed good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.81 for Latvian version and 0.79 for Russian version of the PHQ-9). A cut-off score of 8 or greater was established for the PHQ-9 (sensitivity 0.75 and 0.79, specificity 0.84 and 0.80 for Latvian and Russian languages, respectively). For the PHQ-2, a score of 2 or higher (sensitivity 0.79 and 0.79, specificity 0.65 and 0.67 for Latvian and Russian languages) detected more cases of depression than a score of 3 or higher. Conclusions: We suggest GPs ask patients to respond to the first 2 questions of the PHQ-9. If their score is positive, the patients should then complete the PHQ-9.
AB - Background: Depression is highly underdiagnosed in primary care settings in Latvia. Screening for depression in primary care is potentially an efficient way to find undetected case s and improve diagnostics. We aimed to validate both a nine-item and two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9 and PHQ-2) in the Latvian and Russian languages in primary care settings using a representative sample in Latvia. Materials and methods: The study was carried out within the framework of the National Research Program BIOMEDICINE to assess the prevalence of mental disorders at 24 primary care facilities. During a 1-week period, all consecutive adult patients were invited to complete the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2. Criterion validity was assessed against the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Results: There were 1467 patients who completed the PHQ-9 and the MINI. Overall, the PHQ-9 items showed good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.81 for Latvian version and 0.79 for Russian version of the PHQ-9). A cut-off score of 8 or greater was established for the PHQ-9 (sensitivity 0.75 and 0.79, specificity 0.84 and 0.80 for Latvian and Russian languages, respectively). For the PHQ-2, a score of 2 or higher (sensitivity 0.79 and 0.79, specificity 0.65 and 0.67 for Latvian and Russian languages) detected more cases of depression than a score of 3 or higher. Conclusions: We suggest GPs ask patients to respond to the first 2 questions of the PHQ-9. If their score is positive, the patients should then complete the PHQ-9.
KW - Depression
KW - General practitioners
KW - Primary care
KW - Validation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051026448&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12991-018-0203-5
DO - 10.1186/s12991-018-0203-5
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85051026448
SN - 1744-859X
VL - 17
JO - Annals of General Psychiatry
JF - Annals of General Psychiatry
IS - 1
M1 - 33
ER -
