The British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) 191: 50-54. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.024752
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Poutanen, O.
Right arrow Articles by Salokangas, R. K. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Poutanen, O.
Right arrow Articles by Salokangas, R. K. R.

The Depression Scale as a screening instrument for a subsequent depressive episode in primary healthcare patients

Outi Poutanen, MD, PhD

Medical School, University of Tampere and Psychiatric Clinic, Tampere University Hospital

Anna-Maija Koivisto, MSc

Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Research Unit

Matti Joukamaa, MD, PhD and Aino Mattila, MD

Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere and Psychiatric Clinic, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere

Raimo K. R. Salokangas, MD, PhD, MSc

Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku University Central Hospital and Turku Psychiatric Clinic, Turku, Finland

Correspondence: Dr Outi Poutanen, Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, FIN-33014 University of Tampere, Finland. Email: outi.poutanen{at}uta.fi

Declaration of interest None.

Funding from the Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital.

Background There are numerous instruments for screening for depression. A feasible screen is good at both recognising and predicting depression.

Aims To study the ability of the Depression Scale and its items to recognise and predict a depressive episode.

Method A sample of patients attending primary care was examined in1991-992 and again 7 years later. The accuracy of the Depression Scale at baseline and at follow-up was tested against the Short Form of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-SF) diagnosis of depression at follow-up. The sensitivity and specificity of the Depression Scale and its items were assessed.

Results Both baseline and follow-up Depression Scale scores were consistent with the CIDI-SF diagnoses. It was possible to find single items efficient at both recognising and predicting depression.

Conclusions The Depression Scale is a useful screening instrument for depression, with both diagnostic and predictive validity.


Related articles in BJP:

From the Editor's desk
Peter Tyrer
BJP 2007 191: 96. [Full Text]