title: A validity study of a psychiatric screening questionnaire (SRQ-20) in primary care in the city of Sao Paulo.
abstract: A validity study of the Self-Report Questionnaire (20 item version, Harding et al, 1980) against the criterion of a standardised psychiatric interview (Goldberg et al, 1970) was carried out at three primary care clinics in Sao Paulo; 875 patients filled in the SRQ-20 questionnaires and a subsample of 260 was interviewed by the psychiatrist. The SRQ-20 was shown to be a feasible screening instrument for psycho-emotional disturbance in these settings. Sensitivity was 83% and specificity 80%, and the questionnaire was a good indicator of morbidity. A correlation was found between questionnaire total scores and independent clinical judgment (r = +0.70). A sex difference in the validity coefficients is described.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001938:Brazil; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires