title: Depression and self-esteem: rapid screening for depression in black, low literacy, hospitalized tuberculosis patients.
abstract: One hundred black hospitalized tuberculosis (TB) patients (75 males and 25 females) were interviewed to ascertain levels of depression and self-esteem. The standard of literacy for 65% of the sample was such that they were unable to complete a self-report inventory. Reliability (internal consistency) was good for the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI: r = 0.79), the 13-item shortened BDI (ABDI: r = 0.76) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (RSE: r = 0.78). There was a significant positive relationship between the BDI and the ABDI (r = 0.92, P = 0.0001). The recommended ABDI cut-off scores established no depression for 32 patients, mild depression for 22 patients, moderate depression for 38 patients and severe depression for 8 patients. There were significant negative relationships between the BDI and the RSE (r = -0.54, P = 0.0001), and between the ABDI and the RSE (r = -0.56, P = 0.0001). Self-esteem scores dropped in accordance with category of depression, revealing that low self-esteem is a characteristic feature of depression. It was concluded that the ABDI was a reliable, rapid, initial screening device for depression in black persons with low literacy levels.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Westaway
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolmarans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000523:psychology*