The DOI matches its Crossref record; 38 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Psychometric Comparison of the PHQ-9 and BDI-II for Measuring Response during Treatment of Depression
Abstract
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Item (PHQ-9) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) are frequently used measures of depression severity, but little is known about their relative psychometric properties. The authors assessed psychometric properties of both measures during treatment for depression. The PHQ-9 and BDI-II scores from 172 depressed participants in two randomized controlled trials of treatment for depression were assessed and combined. Tests of internal consistency (Cronbach's α), factor analyses, correlational analyses, estimates of clinically significant change, and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated after treatment and follow-up. Both scales demonstrated adequate internal consistency at pre- and posttreatment (PHQ-9 α = .74 and .81; BDI-II α = .87 and .90, respectively). Factor analysis failed to confirm the one-factor model previously reported for the PHQ-9, but two factors evidenced good fit for the BDI-II. Both scales converged more with each other than with the Sheehan Disability Scale at pre- but not at posttreatment. Responsiveness to change of PHQ-9 and BDI-II was similar at both posttreatment and follow-up. The consistency of agreement on indices of clinical significance was fair to moderate, but the BDI-II categorised a greater proportion of participants with severe depression than the PHQ-9. The BDI-II and PHQ-9 demonstrated adequate reliability, convergent/discriminant validity, and similar responsiveness to change. Differences were found in how they categorised severity. Pending the results of further studies, the attributes of the PHQ-9, of being shorter and based on the diagnostic criteria for depression, may indicate an advantage over the BDI-II.
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In the citing paper
“The PHQ-9 has strong internal consistency (0.74-0.81), validity, and demonstrated responsiveness to change [32].”
From A randomized controlled trial of yoga vs nonaerobic exercise for veterans with PTSD: Understanding efficacy, mechanisms of change, and mode of delivery (2021) · cites this paper as [32]
In the citing paper
“Both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are well-established measures with demonstrated good validity and reliability even when administered via the internet.49–51”
In the citing paper
“The PHQ-9 is brief, with strong sensitivity and specificity [59].”
Citations
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1 of the 39 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- American Psychiatric Association . 1994 . Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders , 4th ed. , Washington, DC : Author .
- Beck , A. T. , Steer , R. A. and Brown , B. K. 1996 . Beck Depression Inventory manual , 2nd ed. , San Antonio, TX : Psychological Corporation .
- 10.1080/00036810600603377 · DOI
- 10.1016/s0924-9338(97)83296-8 · DOI · Paper page
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Groarke, J. M., Berry, E., Graham-Wisener, L., McKenna-Plumley, P. E., McGlinchey, E., & Armour, C. (2020) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239698 · Cited by 727
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Validation of the PHQ-9 in a psychiatric sample
Beard, C., Hsu, K. J., Rifkin, L. S., Busch, A. B., & Björgvinsson, T. (2016) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.12.075 · Cited by 467
Neacsiu, A. D., Eberle, J. W., Kramer, R., Wiesmann, T., & Linehan, M. M. (2014) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2014.05.005 · Cited by 394
Metadata
- Authors
- Titov, N., Dear, B. F., McMillan, D., Anderson, T., Zou, J., & Sunderland, M.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- University of York (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Titov, Nickolai
- Venue
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 126-136
- ISSN
- 1650-6073 (ISSN-L)
- 1651-2316
- OpenAlex
- W2062363236
- Cited by
- 342
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 13.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Keywords
- PHQ-9, Beck Depression Inventory-II, depression severity measurement, psychometric properties, responsiveness to change, internal consistency, factor structure, convergent validity, clinical significance, Sheehan Disability Scale, depression treatment outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Reproducibility of Results, Treatment Outcome, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Young Adult
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