Screening, diagnosis & monitoring of depression/distress in CHF patients.
Objective and validated measures of depression/distress (anxiety and anger) are available and readily usable at the bedside or in clinic. Foremost among these is the Patient's Health Questionnaire--an adaptation of DSM IV criteria for Major Depressive Disorder that permits administration and scoring by nursing or physician personnel, and quantification of the intensity of depression. A score of 10 or greater indicates a need for evaluation/treatment. Because of patient denial/minimization/alexithymia, PHQ negatives should undergo further screening by having a spouse or friend complete a depression/distress rating scale. The only standardized, normed, and validated spouse/friend scale presently available is the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist, which is available by internet.
Henry Ford Hospital/CFP6, 2799 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. MKetter1@hfhs.org
Mark W
MW
Ketterer
Walter
W
Knysz
D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D033062:Friends; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*