title: The Distress Questionnaire-5: Population screener for psychological distress was more accurate than the K6/K10.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The K6 and K10 are well-validated screening measures for psychological distress and are widely used. However, the accuracy of these scales in identifying common mental disorders may be suboptimal. This study aimed to develop a brief scale of psychological distress--the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5)--and validate its diagnostic accuracy in identifying common mental disorders, relative to the K6 and K10.
  
  
  METHODS
  The DQ5 was developed from a pool of 347 items reflecting a range of mental health symptoms. Validation of the DQ5 was conducted concurrently, on the basis of DSM-5 criteria for seven common mental disorders. A population-based sample of Australian adults (n = 3,175) was recruited online, with data weighted to reflect population estimates of disorder prevalence, age, and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At specified cut points, the DQ5 was significantly more accurate in identifying individuals who met criteria for each of the disorders examined relative to the K6, with the exception of major depression where there was no significant difference in sensitivity or specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DQ5 is a promising tool for identifying psychological distress in the community, with potential for use in a range of clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: philip.batterham@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Batterham
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunderland
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carragher
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Calear
authors.affiliation: Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Locked Bag 10, Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Case finding; Mental disorders; Psychological distress; Psychometrics; Screening; Validation