The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is an instrument used to screen for alcohol-related problems. It has been increasingly used in many different countries in both the original English-language version and its many translated versions. Because of the need for screening instruments of faster administration, shortened versions of the AUDIT have also been developed. This study was aimed at expanding the work by Berner and colleagues (2007) in an attempt to answer some remaining questions as well as to identify and evaluate studies on the validation of modified versions of the AUDIT, which have not been previously analyzed. In order to do so, we identified indexed articles published between 2002 and 2009 related to the psychometric qualities of the AUDIT by matching the keywords: alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and AUDIT. We found 47 articles that evaluated the AUDIT in different countries and in diverse health and community contexts, involving adolescent, adult, and elderly samples. The studies confirmed the validity and efficiency of the AUDIT in the identification of harmful use, abuse, and dependence of alcohol, both in the original version and in modified ones. The possibility of using brief and efficient versions is of great value, since certain health contexts demand faster assessment. The results also showed that the reduced versions have satisfactory psychometric qualities, sometimes with sensitivity values higher than those of the AUDIT itself. The studies analyzed confirm the efficiency of the AUDIT both in its original, reduced, and language-adapted versions in different contexts and cultures.

for the Depression Screening Data (DEPRESSD) PHQ Collaboration IMPORTANCE The Patient Health Questionnaire depression module (PHQ-9) is a 9-item self-administered instrument used for detecting depression and assessing severity of depression. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) consists of the first 2 items of the PHQ-9 (which assess the frequency of depressed mood and anhedonia) and can be used as a first step to identify patients for evaluation with the full PHQ-9.OBJECTIVE To estimate PHQ-2 accuracy alone and combined with the PHQ-9 for detecting major depression.

The results obtained in this study confirm the validity of the abbreviated versions of the AUDIT for the screening of alcohol use disorders and show that their psychometric properties are as satisfactory as those of the 10-item AUDIT and the CAGE.

The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is an instrument used to screen for alcohol-related problems. It has been increasingly used in many different countries in both the original English-language version and its many translated versions. Because of the need for screening instruments of faster administration, shortened versions of the AUDIT have also been developed. This study was aimed at expanding the work by Berner and colleagues (2007) in an attempt to answer some remaining questions as well as to identify and evaluate studies on the validation of modified versions of the AUDIT, which have not been previously analyzed. In order to do so, we identified indexed articles published between 2002 and 2009 related to the psychometric qualities of the AUDIT by matching the keywords: alcohol, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, and AUDIT. We found 47 articles that evaluated the AUDIT in different countries and in diverse health and community contexts, involving adolescent, adult, and elderly samples. The studies confirmed the validity and efficiency of the AUDIT in the identification of harmful use, abuse, and dependence of alcohol, both in the original version and in modified ones. The possibility of using brief and efficient versions is of great value, since certain health contexts demand faster assessment. The results also showed that the reduced versions have satisfactory psychometric qualities, sometimes with sensitivity values higher than those of the AUDIT itself. The studies analyzed confirm the efficiency of the AUDIT both in its original, reduced, and language-adapted versions in different contexts and cultures.

The systematic use of these instruments in nursing and in the context of primary health care could favor the early detection of depression.

BackgroundItem 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) queries about thoughts of death and self-harm, but not suicidality. Although it is sometimes used to assess suicide risk, most positive responses are not associated with suicidality. The PHQ-8, which omits Item 9, is thus increasingly used in research. We assessed equivalency of total score correlations and the diagnostic accuracy to detect major depression of the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9.MethodsWe conducted an individual patient data meta-analysis. We fit bivariate random-effects models to assess diagnostic accuracy.Results16 742 participants (2097 major depression cases) from 54 studies were included. The correlation between PHQ-8 and PHQ-9 scores was 0.996 (95% confidence interval 0.996 to 0.996). The standard cutoff score of 10 for the PHQ-9 maximized sensitivity + specificity for the PHQ-8 among studies that used a semi-structured diagnostic interview reference standard (N = 27). At cutoff 10, the PHQ-8 was less sensitive by 0.02 (−0.06 to 0.00) and more specific by 0.01 (0.00 to 0.01) among those studies (N = 27), with similar results for studies that used other types of interviews (N = 27). For all 54 primary studies combined, across all cutoffs, the PHQ-8 was less sensitive than the PHQ-9 by 0.00 to 0.05 (0.03 at cutoff 10), and specificity was within 0.01 for all cutoffs (0.00 to 0.01).ConclusionsPHQ-8 and PHQ-9 total scores were similar. Sensitivity may be minimally reduced with the PHQ-8, but specificity is similar.

RESUMO. Objetivou-se investigar, através da Escala de Desenhos de Silhuetas, a percepção de tamanho e forma corporal de 150 mulheres, divididas com base no índice de massa corporal (IMC) em cinco grupos: não-obesidade, sobrepeso e obesidade graus I, II e III. As escolhas foram classificadas em representações de tamanho e forma corporal normal, real e ideal. Evidenciou-se que as escolhas de homem e mulher de tamanhos normais, nos cinco grupos, foram associadas a representações de baixo peso. Na auto-avaliação de tamanho e forma corporal real, notou-se ampla distribuição de escolhas, sendo que, com exceção do grupo com sobrepeso, a maioria das mulheres dos demais grupos fez escolhas compatíveis com seu IMC. O tamanho e forma corporal ideal foram associados a figuras representativas de baixo peso. Os dados apontam para a relevância das diferenças entre adequação da percepção real e ideal, sinalizando a direção das dificuldades relativas à autopercepção corporal.Palavras-chave: imagem corporal, obesidade, auto-avaliação. PERCEPTIONS OF BODY SHAPE AND SIZE IN WOMEN: AN EXPLORATORY STUDYABSTRACT. The objective of the present study was to investigate women's size and shape body perception using the Ninefigure Outline Scale. A total of 150 women were divided into five groups according to body mass index (BMI): non-obese, overweight and grade I, II and III obese women. The options were classified in representations of normal, real and ideal body size and shape. It was evident that the men and women's choice for normal sizes, in the five groups, were predominantly connected to the representation of low body weight. In the self-assessment of the real body size and shape, it was noticed a broad distribution of choices, although with the exception of the pre-obesity group, the majority of women from the other groups made compatible choices with their BMI. The ideal body size and shape was associated with representative figures of low body weight. The data indicate the relevance of the differences between the adequacy of real and ideal perception, pointing at the difficulties related to body self-perception.

Objective: The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a screening instrument for physical nicotine dependence and is extensively used in various countries. The objective of the present report was to review articles related to the psychometric properties of the FTND. Methods: A systematic search for articles published up through December of 2007 was carried out in various electronic databases. The following search terms were used: "Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence"; "FTND"; "psychometric"; "validity"; "reliability"; "feasibility"; and "factors". We included articles published in English, Spanish or Portuguese and in which the psychometric properties of the FTND were evaluated. Results: Twenty-six studies related to the psychometric properties of the FTND were identified in the indexed literature. Analysis of the studies confirmed the reliability of the FTND for the assessment of nicotine dependence in different settings and populations. Conclusions: Further validation studies using previously validated instruments as a comparative measure are needed before the extensive use of the FTND can be justified on the basis of its psychometric qualities.Keywords: Tobacco use disorder; Psychometrics; Tobacco; Reproducibility of results. ResumoObjetivo: O Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND, Teste de Fagerström para Dependência de Nicotina) é um instrumento de rastreamento para dependência física de tabaco, amplamente utilizado em diversos países. Objetivou-se realizar uma revisão de artigos relacionados às propriedades psicométricas do FTND. Métodos: Uma busca sistemática foi realizada usando-se vários indexadores eletrônicos até dezembro de 2007, com os seguintes descritores: "Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence"; "FTND"; "psychometric"; "validity"; "reliability"; "feasibility"; e "factors". Foram incluídos os artigos relacionados à avaliação das propriedades psicométricas do FTND publicados em inglês, espanhol e português. Resultados: Vinte e seis estudos relativos às propriedades psicomé-tricas do FTND foram identificados na literatura indexada. A análise dos estudos confirmou a confiabilidade do FTND na avaliação da dependência de tabaco em diferentes contextos e populações. Conclusões: Futuros estudos de validação, utilizando como medida comparativa instrumentos aferidos, de modo a referendar o seu extenso uso pelas suas qualidades psicométricas ainda são necessários.Descritores: Transtorno por uso de tabaco; Psicometria; Tabaco; Reprodutibilidade dos testes.