title: Development and validation of the Rasch-based Depression Screening (DESC) using Rasch analysis and structural equation modelling.
abstract: Questionnaires for the assessment of depression benefit from modern test construction like item-response-modelling. We developed two parallel 10 item depression questionnaires, the Rasch-based Depression Screening version 1 (DESC-I) and 2 (DESC-II), by combining Rasch analysis and structural equation modelling on patient samples suffering primarily from a mental disorder or from somatic diseases. Both scales base upon a Rasch homogeneous item bank and proved unidimensionality and good model fit. Cut-off scores with good sensitivity and specificity were developed using ROC analyses. Results suggest that DESC may be appropriately used to screen for depression and may be beneficial for repeated measurements.
authors: Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. tforkmann@ukaachen.de
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Forkmann
authors: Maren
authors: M
authors: Boecker
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Wirtz
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Eberle
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Westhofen
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Schauerte
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Mischke
authors: Tilo
authors: T
authors: Kircher
authors: Siegfried
authors: S
authors: Gauggel
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Norra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires