Prediction of depression in systemic lupus erythematosus patients using SF-36 Mental Health scores.
OBJECTIVE
As depression is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, we investigated whether and how the Medical Outcome Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores, routinely used in the assessment of SLE patients, would indicate the absence or presence of depression.


METHODS
The Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) and the SF-36 were applied in a cross-sectional cohort of 60 SLE patients [mean age 45 (S.D. 15) yr, disease duration 11 (9) yr, 90% female, 100% Caucasians]. The SF-36 domain score with the closest association with HADS-D was used for further analysis. On the basis of HADS-D scores, the patients were split into two groups: one without depression (score<8) and the other with possible depression (score > or =8).


RESULTS
The SF-36 Mental Health score was most closely correlated to the depression score (rho=-0.69, P<0.0005). The calculated Mental Health score cut-off value which significantly differentiated possibly depressed from non-depressed SLE patients was 61. Its sensitivity for the detection of possible depression was 89%, its specificity 77% and its negative predictive value 97%.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study contributes to knowledge of means of excluding depression and the prevention of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of depression in SLE patients.
Stoll
T
T
Rheuma- und Rehabilitationsklinik, Schinznach, Division of Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Kauer
Y
Y
Büchi
S
S
Klaghofer
R
R
Sensky
T
T
Villiger
P M
PM
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged