Addressing overestimation of the prevalence of depression based on self-report screening questionnaires

Thombs, Brett D.; Kwakkenbos, Linda; Levis, Alexander W.; Benedetti, Andrea

doi:10.1503/cmaj.170691

Cited by 158 publications

(172 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(31 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

163

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Another factor that may explain variation in rates of depressive symptoms is the measurement of symptoms, which includes the use of a clinical diagnostic interview to classify major depressive disorder versus self‐report screening questionnaires . Although screening questionnaires are often used because of their convenience (ie, inexpensive and quick to administer to large groups), it should be noted that screening questionnaires overestimate the prevalence of depression .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…26 Additionally, psychosocial support throughout the cancer trajectory has improved and cancer survi- Another factor that may explain variation in rates of depressive symptoms is the measurement of symptoms, which includes the use of a clinical diagnostic interview to classify major depressive disorder versus self-report screening questionnaires. 1,28 Although screening questionnaires are often used because of their convenience (ie, inexpensive and quick to administer to large groups), it should be noted that screening questionnaires overestimate the prevalence of depression. 28 In addition, variation in rates of depressive symptoms may not only be explained by using different screening instruments but also by using different cutoff thresholds within a distinct instrument for determining elevated depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,28 Although screening questionnaires are often used because of their convenience (ie, inexpensive and quick to administer to large groups), it should be noted that screening questionnaires overestimate the prevalence of depression. 28 In addition, variation in rates of depressive symptoms may not only be explained by using different screening instruments but also by using different cutoff thresholds within a distinct instrument for determining elevated depressive symptoms. 1 Our study used the PHQ-9, which is commonly used in oncology for screening on depressive symptoms, 16,20,21 and using a cut-off of greater than or equal to 10, we found moderate levels of depressive symptoms rates of 7.6%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Reasons for low uptake of a psychological intervention offered to cancer survivors with elevated depressive symptoms

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective In line with screening guidelines, cancer survivors were consecutively screened on depressive symptoms (as part of standard care), with those reporting elevated levels of symptoms offered psychological care as part of a trial. Because of the low uptake, no conclusions could be drawn about the interventions' efficacy. Given the trial set‐up (following screening guidelines and strict methodological quality criteria), we believe that this observational study reporting the flow of participation, reasons for and characteristics associated with nonparticipation, adds to the debate about the feasibility and efficiency of screening guidelines. Methods Two thousand six hundred eight medium‐ to long‐term cancer survivors were consecutively screened on depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9). Those with moderate depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9 ≥ 10) were contacted and informed about the trial. Patient flow and reasons for nonparticipation were carefully monitored. Results One thousand thirty seven survivors (74.3%) returned the questionnaire, with 147 (7.6%) reporting moderate depressive symptoms. Of this group, 49 survivors (33.3%) were ineligible, including 26 survivors (17.7%) already receiving treatment and another 44 survivors (30.0%) reporting no need for treatment. Only 25 survivors (1.0%) participated in the trial. Conclusion Of the approached survivors for screening, only 1% was eligible and interested in receiving psychological care as part of our trial. Four reasons for nonparticipation were: nonresponse to screening, low levels of depressive symptoms, no need, or already receiving care. Our findings question whether to spend the limited resources in psycho‐oncological care on following screening guidelines and the efficiency of using consecutive screening for trial recruitment in cancer survivors.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reasons for low uptake of a psychological intervention offered to cancer survivors with elevated depressive symptoms

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Utilising a robust methodology, Mantry et al (2008) found that mental illness clinically affected 23.7% of adults with DS, but the prevalence would lower to 10.8% if applying Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Revised criteria. The recent research corroborated that applying an inappropriate diagnostic method for depression exaggerated its prevalence at least twice that of the true prevalence (Thombs et al 2018). While depression, anxiety, obsessivecompulsive disorder and behavioural issues make up most diagnoses for mental illness in DS (Jensen & Bulova 2014), the prevalence of mental illness in DS adults was lower compared with other adults with IDs (Mantry et al 2008).…”

Section: Discharge Statusesmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…The recent research corroborated that applying an inappropriate diagnostic method for depression exaggerated its prevalence at least twice that of the true prevalence (Thombs et al . ). While depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder and behavioural issues make up most diagnoses for mental illness in DS (Jensen & Bulova ), the prevalence of mental illness in DS adults was lower compared with other adults with IDs (Mantry et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome: lesson from a 10‐year experience from a community hospital

Chenbhanich

Phupitakphol

et al. 2018

J intellect Disabil Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has improved significantly over the past decades. However, there are sparse data documenting the co‐morbidities and hospitalisation of adult patients with DS in the literature. The aim of this study was to characterise the co‐morbidities and pattern of hospitalisation in adult patients with DS during a 10‐year period at the community hospital as well as to compare hospitalisation parameters with the general adult population during the same years. Method We reviewed the medical records of 81 hospitalisations from 37 patients with DS aged 21 to 68 years at Metrowest Medical Center during a 10‐year period and compared with those of the general adult population during the same time. Co‐morbidities were also described. Results Adults with DS had a mean age at admission of 48.6 ± 8.8 years with the median length of stay of 3 days (interquartile range 4 days). Male patients were hospitalised longer than female patients (mean 5.0 vs. 2.8 days; P < 0.05), and patients who lived at home were admitted at earlier ages than those who came from residential healthcare facility (mean 41.5 vs. 52.2 years; P < 0.001). The most common cause of hospitalisation was pneumonia/aspiration syndrome (29.6%), and the most common co‐morbidity was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/dysphagia (70.3%). Presence of GERD/dysphagia or seizure disorder was significantly associated with multiple admission and readmission within 1 month (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was 4.9%, and the rate of intensive care unit admission was 8.6%. Conclusions Our cohort did not show statistically significant different hospitalisation parameters such as inpatient mortality and average length of stay when compared with general adult population hospitalised at the same years. The care of adult patients with DS presents challenges in internal medicine due to its unique co‐morbid profile and signifies the importance of multidisciplinary approach. In order to improve the care of this patient population, their co‐morbidities, particularly GERD/dysphagia and seizure disorder, should be optimally managed and comprehensively addressed when patients are hospitalised.

show abstract

Psychometric evaluation of the Swedish Traumatic Grief Inventory Self‐Report Plus (TGI‐SR+) in bereaved parents

Lenferink,

van Dijk,

Eisma

et al. 2023

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Edition (ICD‐11), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM‐5‐TR), now include prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Since criteria for PGD in both classification systems differ from prior proposed grief disorders and each other, the validation of a single instrument to screen for prolonged grief (PG) symptoms of both new diagnoses is critical for bereavement research and care. Therefore, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the Traumatic Grief Inventory Self‐Report Plus (TGI‐SR+). Two‐hundred and forty‐eight bereaved parents completed questions about sociodemographic and loss‐related variables, the TGI‐SR+, and symptom measures of post‐traumatic stress (PTS), depression and an older measure of PG symptoms, the Prolonged Grief Disorder‐13 (PG‐13). Confirmatory factor analyses showed that a one‐factor model best fit DSM‐5‐TR and ICD‐11 PG symptoms and the analyses of the internal consistency and inter‐item correlations showed that these symptoms could be reliably assessed. In support of convergent validity, DSM‐5‐TR and ICD‐11 PG symptoms correlated with symptoms of PTS, depression and PG assessed with the PG‐13. In support of known‐groups validity, DSM‐5‐TR and ICD‐11 PG symptoms were higher among lower educated (vs. higher educated) participants and related negatively to time since loss. ROC analyses showed optimal cut‐off score of ≥71 and ≥72 to determine probable caseness for DSM‐5‐TR and ICD‐11 PGD, respectively. Results support the reliability and validity of the Swedish TGI‐SR+ as a screening instrument for PG in research and bereavement care.

show abstract

Addressing overestimation of the prevalence of depression based on self-report screening questionnaires

Cited by 158 publications

References 24 publications

Reasons for low uptake of a psychological intervention offered to cancer survivors with elevated depressive symptoms

Reasons for low uptake of a psychological intervention offered to cancer survivors with elevated depressive symptoms

Hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome: lesson from a 10‐year experience from a community hospital

Psychometric evaluation of the Swedish Traumatic Grief Inventory Self‐Report Plus (TGI‐SR+) in bereaved parents

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About