Cited by 303Cancer survivorship and careAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Treatment and Access

Hospital anxiety and depression scale cutoff scores for cancer patients in acute care

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Singer, S, Kuhnt, S, Götze, H, Hauss, J, Hinz, A, Liebmann, A, Krauß, O, Lehmann, A +1 more·2009·British Journal of Cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine optimal cutoff scores for the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) when used in evaluating cancer patients in acute care. A total of 689 cancer patients were assessed during their first days of in-patient treatment, using the structured clinical interview for DSM and the HADS. Statistical analysis was performed using ROC curves. A total of 222 patients (32%) had a mental disorder. The area under the curve was the best in the total scale of the HADS, namely 0.73. With a score of > or =13, it is possible to detect 76% of the cases with a specificity of .60, whereas 95% of the cases can be detected with a score of > or =6 (specificity 0.21). With scores of > or =16 and > or =22, recommended by the test authors for primary care, only 59 and 30% of the comorbid cancer patients are indicated. Lower HADS cutoff scores when preferable when evaluating cancer patients than are recommended for use in primary care. When using HADS in clinical practice and epidemiological studies, it is important to decide whether, for the task at hand, high detection rates of affected patients or low misclassification rates are more important.

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  1. First M, Spitzer R, Gibbon M, Williams J (1997) Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Clinician Version. American Psychiatric Press: Washington, DC

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Authors
Singer, S., Kuhnt, S., Götze, H., Hauss, J., Hinz, A., Liebmann, A., Krauß, O., Lehmann, A., & Schwarz, R.
Affiliations
  • University of London (GB)
  • Leipzig University (DE)
  • Helios Park-Klinikum Leipzig (DE)
Corresponding author
Singer, S
Venue
British Journal of Cancer
Published
2009-02-24
Volume
100
Issue
6
Pages
908-912
ISSN
  • 0007-0920 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-1827
OpenAlex
W2017154400
Cited by
303
References
25
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
FWCI
5.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of Cancer (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, cut-off values, cancer patients, acute care, anxiety, depression, mental illness, diagnostic accuracy, receiver operating characteristic
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

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