Validation of depression screening scales in patients with CKD.
BACKGROUND
Depressive symptoms, assessed by using self-report scales, are present at a striking rate of 45% in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at dialysis therapy initiation. These scales may emphasize somatic symptoms of anorexia, sleep disturbance, and fatigue, which may coexist with chronic disease symptoms and lead to overestimation of depression diagnosis. No study has validated these scales in patients with CKD before dialysis therapy initiation.


METHODS
We conducted a diagnostic test study in participants with CKD to investigate the screening characteristics of 2 depression self-report scales against a gold-standard structured psychiatric interview.


METHODS
272 consecutively recruited outpatients with stages 2 to 5 CKD not treated by dialysis were studied.


METHODS
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR(16)) depression screening scales were administered to all participants.


METHODS
A structured Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition)-based interview, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, was administered by trained persons blinded to self-report scale scores.


RESULTS
57 of 272 (21%) patients had major depression according to the reference test. The best cutoff scores by means of receiver/responder operating characteristic curves to identify a major depressive episode were 11 for the BDI and 10 for the QIDS-SR(16). Sensitivities were 89% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78 to 96; BDI) and 91% (95% CI, 80 to 97; QIDS-SR(16)), whereas specificities were 88% (95% CI, 83 to 92; BDI) and 88% (95% CI, 83 to 92; QIDS-SR(16)). The positive and negative likelihood ratios for these cutoff scores were 7.6 and 0.1 (BDI) and 7.5 and 0.1 (QIDS-SR(16)).


CONCLUSIONS
Single-center study and a sample not representative of US demographics.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that a BDI score of 11 or higher was a sensitive and specific cutoff value for identifying a major depressive episode in patients with CKD not on dialysis therapy. Both the BDI and QIDS-SR(16) are effective screening tools.
Hedayati
S Susan
SS
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX 75216-7167, USA. susan.hedayati@utsouthwestern.edu
Minhajuddin
Abu T
AT
Toto
Robert D
RD
Morris
David W
DW
Rush
A John
AJ
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*