Comparison of self-report and structured clinical interview in the identification of depression.
BACKGROUND
A self-report method seeking a binary response for assessing depression is a cost-effective and time-efficient way to obtain a psychiatric history, yet the reliability of this method is largely unknown. The aim of the study was to compare and assess the validity of two methods for identifying a past history of depression in a population-based study.


METHODS
This study examined data collected from 891 men and 1086 women participating in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Self-reports of depression were compared with results obtained using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Research Version, Non-patient edition (SCID-I/NP).


RESULTS
Using the SCID-I/NP, 146 (16.4%) men and 285 (26.2%) women met criteria for a lifetime depression. Of those participants, 61.0% (n=263) self-reported a history of depression. The level of agreement between self-reporting depression and the SCID-I/NP depression module was reasonably high; 61% sensitivity, 89.5% specificity and the overall level of agreement (kappa) was 0.5.


CONCLUSIONS
Results may not be generalizable to other self-report instruments or be suitable for use in clinical samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The SCID-I/NP remains the gold standard for identifying depression; however, given the moderate level of agreement between the self-report questionnaire and SCID-I/NP in our current study, we conclude that simple self-report methods can be used to identify depression with some degree of confidence.
Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: amandh@barwonhealth.org.au.
Amanda L
AL
Stuart
Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; NorthWest Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Sunshine Hospital, St Albans, Australia; Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia. Electronic address: juliep@barwonhealth.org.au.
Julie A
JA
Pasco
Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: felice@barwonhealth.org.au.
Felice N
FN
Jacka
Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; NorthWest Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Sunshine Hospital, St Albans, Australia; Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences, St Albans, Australia. Electronic address: sharob@barwonhealth.org.au.
Sharon L
SL
Brennan
Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Parkville, Australia; Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Parkville, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: mikebe@barwonhealth.org.au.
Michael
M
Berk
Deakin University, School of Medicine, Geelong, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Parkville, Australia. Electronic address: lanaw@barwonhealth.org.au.
Lana J
LJ
Williams
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report / Q000191:economics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires