Sensitivity and specificity of a visual depression screening instrument among HIV-positive individuals in Uganda, an area with low literacy.
Given the high prevalence of depression in PHC, the use of depression screening instruments has often been recommended. The aim of this study was to construct and validate a visual depression screening instrument in a setting of low literacy and a high burden of HIV/AIDS. We engaged the help of a fine artist to draw pictures depicting DSM-IV-TR criteria for a depressive episode. We then validated this instrument named the Akena's visual depression inventory (AVIDI), in 92 persons living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. The performance of the AVIDI in those with high and low education levels was determined. The area under curve (AUC) score of the AVIDI was 0.82. There was no difference between the AUC scores in persons with lower versus higher education levels. The AVIDI demonstrated a good psychometric property and can therefore be used to screen for depression in settings with higher rates of illiteracy.
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. akenadickens@yahoo.co.uk
Dickens
D
Akena
John
J
Joska
Seggane
S
Musisi
Dan J
DJ
Stein
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010555:Personality Inventory; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D014796:Visual Perception