Measuring mental health of the Dutch population: a comparison of the GHQ-12 and the MHI-5.
BACKGROUND
The objective is to compare the performance of the MHI-5 and GHQ-12, both measures of general mental health. Therefore, we studied the relationship of the GHQ-12 and MHI-5 with sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported visits to general practice and mental health care, and with diagnoses made by the general practitioner.


METHODS
Data were used from the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice, which was carried out in 104 practices. This study combines data from a representative sample of the Dutch population with data from general practice.


RESULTS
The agreement between the GHQ-12 and MHI-5 is only moderate. Both instruments are however similarly associated with demographic characteristics (except age), self-reported health care use, and psychological and social diagnoses in general practice.


CONCLUSIONS
The performance of the MHI-5 and GHQ-12 in terms of predicting mental health problems and related help seeking behaviour is similar. An advantage of the MHI-5 is that it has been widely used, not only in surveys of mental health, but also in surveys of general health and quality of life, and it is shorter. A disadvantage of the MHI-5 is that there is no cut-off point. We recommend a study to establish a valid, internationally comparable cut-off point.
Hoeymans
Nancy
N
National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, P,O, Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Nancy.Hoeymans@rivm.nl
Garssen
Anna A
AA
Westert
Gert P
GP
Verhaak
Peter F M
PF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires