title: The WHO-5 Well-Being Index: a systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) is among the most widely used questionnaires assessing subjective psychological well-being. Since its first publication in 1998, the WHO-5 has been translated into more than 30 languages and has been used in research studies all over the world. We now provide a systematic review of the literature on the WHO-5.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic search for literature on the WHO-5 in PubMed and PsycINFO in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. In our review of the identified articles, we focused particularly on the following aspects: (1) the clinimetric validity of the WHO-5; (2) the responsiveness/sensitivity of the WHO-5 in controlled clinical trials; (3) the potential of the WHO-5 as a screening tool for depression, and (4) the applicability of the WHO-5 across study fields.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 213 articles met the predefined criteria for inclusion in the review. The review demonstrated that the WHO-5 has high clinimetric validity, can be used as an outcome measure balancing the wanted and unwanted effects of treatments, is a sensitive and specific screening tool for depression and its applicability across study fields is very high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WHO-5 is a short questionnaire consisting of 5 simple and non-invasive questions, which tap into the subjective well-being of the respondents. The scale has adequate validity both as a screening tool for depression and as an outcome measure in clinical trials and has been applied successfully across a wide range of study fields.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Research Unit, Psychiatric Centre North Zealand, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian Winther
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Topp
authors.forename: Søren Dinesen
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Østergaard
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Søndergaard
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
mesh_terms: D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization