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Detecting and monitoring depression with a two-item questionnaire (PHQ-2)
Abstract
Objective This study evaluates the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) as a measure for diagnosing and monitoring depression.Methods We assessed construct validity in a cross-sectional sample of 1619 medical outpatients (mean age 43+/-14 years, 64% female) by comparing the PHQ-2 to four longer self-report questionnaires. Criterion validity was established in a subsample of 520 participants with reference to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Sensitivity to change was investigated in a prospective study of 167 patients who completed the SCID both at baseline and the 1-year follow-up.Results With reference to the SCID, the PHQ-2 had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 78% for major depressive disorder and a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 86% for any depressive disorder. Its diagnostic performance was comparable with that of longer depression scales. PHQ-2 change scores accurately reflected improved, unchanged, and deteriorated depression outcomes.Conclusion The PHQ-2 performed favorably with respect to a standard diagnostic interview, as well as established depression scales and proved sensitive to change. Thus, the PHQ-2 appears promising as a brief multipurpose measure for detecting depression, grading its severity, and monitoring outcomes over time.
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“The reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the PHQ-2 have been established [56, 57, 64].”
In the citing paper
“Mood was assessed with 2 questions adapted from the PHQ-2, a validated brief form of the PHQ-9, which assesses only low mood and loss of interest or pleasure and is sensitive to depression and suitable for brief assessments [36].”
From Wearable technology for high-frequency cognitive and mood assessment in major depressive disorder: longitudinal observational study (2019) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“Mood was assessed with 2 questions adapted from the PHQ-2, a validated brief form of the PHQ-9, which assesses only low mood and loss of interest or pleasure and is sensitive to depression and suitable for brief assessments [36].”
From Wearable technology for high-frequency cognitive and mood assessment in major depressive disorder: longitudinal observational study (2019) · cites this paper as [36]
In the citing paper
“Mood was assessed with 2 questions adapted from the PHQ-2, a validated brief form of the PHQ-9, which assesses only low mood and loss of interest or pleasure and is sensitive to depression and suitable for brief assessments [36].”
From Wearable technology for high-frequency cognitive and mood assessment in major depressive disorder: longitudinal observational study (2019) · cites this paper as [36]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Löwe, B., Kroenke, K., & Gräfe, K.
- Affiliations
- Regenstrief Institute (US)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Löwe, Bernd
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-02
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 163-171
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2065455682
- Semantic Scholar
- cad15cd078a4536990557c27e4c244a613c19d84
- Cited by
- 1,473
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 96 · 2025: 132 · 2024: 138 · 2023: 150 · 2022: 150 · 2021: 175 · 2020: 107 · 2019: 84 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 50 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 14.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Pfizer
- Max Kade Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- PHQ-2, Patient Health Questionnaire, depression screening, depression diagnosis, depression monitoring, construct validity, criterion validity, sensitivity to change, major depressive disorder, depressive disorders, medical outpatients
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sensitivity and Specificity, Disease Progression
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