title: A comparison of depression and mental distress indicators, Rhode Island Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2006.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is a public health concern that warrants accurate population estimates. The patient health questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8) offers high sensitivity and specificity for assessing depression but is time-consuming to administer, answer, and score. We sought to determine whether 1 of 3 simpler instruments - the shorter PHQ-2 or 2 single questions from the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) module of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) - could offer accuracy comparable to the PHQ-8.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the depression and mental distress indicators of 2006 Rhode Island BRFSS data by using 4 types of analyses: 1) sensitivity and specificity estimates, 2) prevalence estimates, 3) multivariable logistic regression modeling of the relationship between each of the 4 indicators and 11 demographic and health risk variables, and 4) geographic distribution of prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the PHQ-8, the 3 other measures have high levels of specificity but lower sensitivity. Depression prevalence estimates ranged from 8.6% to 10.3%. The adjusted odds ratios from logistic regression modeling were consistent. Each of the indicators was significantly associated with low income, being unable to work, current smoking, and having a disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PHQ-8 indicator is the most sensitive and specific and can assess depression severity. The HRQOL and PHQ-2 indicators are adequate to obtain population prevalence estimates if questionnaire length is limited.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Data and Analysis, Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, RI 02908, USA. Yongwen.Jiang@health.ri.gov
authors.forename: Yongwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jana Earl
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hesser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult