Validity of the PHQ-2 for the screening of major depression in Parkinson's disease: Two questions and one important answer

Author: Chagas Marcos H.N.   Crippa José A.S.   Loureiro Sonia R.   Hallak Jaime E.C.   Meneses-Gaya Carolina de   Machado-de-Sousa João P.   Rodrigues Guilherme R.   Filho Alaor S.   Sanches Rafael F.   Tumas Vitor  

Publisher: Routledge Ltd

ISSN: 1364-6915

Source: Aging and Mental Health, Vol.15, Iss.7, 2011-09, pp. : 838-843

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Abstract

Introduction: Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity in Parkinson's disease (PD), but is often under-diagnosed and under-recognized.Objectives: To evaluate and compare the psychometric qualities of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) and the depression item of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).Method: Cross-sectional study conducted at a movement disorders outpatient clinic. One hundred ten patients with a diagnosis of PD without dementia were evaluated. A neurologist administered the PHQ-2 and the UPDRS, and the diagnosis of major depression was performed using the structured clinical interview for DSM disorders – clinical version. Two self-rating scales (Zung Self-rating Depression Scale and 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale) were also used.Results: The prevalence of current depression in the sample was 25.5% (n = 28). The scores of the PHQ-2 discriminated between subjects with and without depression, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.90. The sensitivity and specificity for a cut-off score of three were 75% and 89%, respectively. The values for the depression item of the UPDRS were slightly lower.Conclusion: The PHQ-2 is a valid tool for screening depression in PD.