Journal of Internal Medicine Concepts & Practice ›› 2021, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (02): 116-120.doi: 10.16138/j.1673-6087.2021.02.010

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Reliability and validity of the ultra-brief screening scale for depression and anxiety in outpatients clinics of community healthcare centers

QIAN Jie1a, JIANG Minmin2, CHEN Chen3, CHEN Yujiao3, YU Dehua1b(), LI Chunbo4,5()   

  1. 1a. Department of Clinical Psychology;b. Department of General Practice, Shanghai Yangpu District Central Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200090, China
    2. Shanghai Yangpu District Changhai Community Health Service Center, Shanghai 200433, China
    3. Shanghai Jing’an District Jiangning Road Community Health Service Center, Shanghai 200040, China
    4. Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
    5. Institute of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Received:2020-12-25 Online:2021-04-25 Published:2022-07-26
  • Contact: YU Dehua,LI Chunbo E-mail:ydh1404@sina.com;licb@smhc.org.cn

Abstract:

Objective To preliminary evaluate the reliability and validity of the ultra-brief screening scale for depression and anxiety [patient health questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4)] in outpatients clinics of community healthcare centers. Methods Totally 313 patients were randomly selected from two community healthcare centers in Shanghai. The patients were asked to complete the PHQ-4 following the prescribed instruction with assistance of a psychiatrist and two physicians, and then were evaluated according Hamilton depression scale(HAMD) and the Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA) followed by a mini international neuropsychiatric interview(MINI). Out of subjects screened, 50 patients were randomly selected to retest the PHQ-4. The reliability coefficients, retest reliability and criterion validity sensitivity and specificity were calculated. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis was performed to determine the best cut-off value, and the sensitivity and specificity accordingly. Results The Cronbach’α coefficient of PHQ-4 was 0.833, the Spearman-Brown coefficient of the split-half reliability was 0.835. For the test-retest reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.969. The correlation coefficients of generalized anxiety disorder 7(GAD-7) with HAMD and HAMA were 0.391 and 0.407 respectively, both statistically significant (P<0.01). ROC analysis showed that the area under curve(AUC) was 0.919, and the best cut-off value was 3, the sensitivity and specificity of PHQ-4 were 87.1% and 82.6% respectively. Conclusions The Chinese version of the PHQ-4 maintains high reliability and validity in outpatient clinics of community healthcare centers, and is suitable for the screening of depression and anxiety.

Key words: The ultra-brief screening scale for depression and anxiety, Patient health questionnaire 4, Reliability, Validity, Community healthcare center outpatients

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