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Open Access 01-06-2016

Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for Major Depressive Disorder in the Occupational Health Setting

Authors: D. Volker, M. C. Zijlstra-Vlasveld, E. P. M. Brouwers, W. A. Homans, W. H. M. Emons, C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 2/2016

Abstract

Purpose Because of the increased risk of long-term sickness leave for employees with a major depressive disorder (MDD), it is important for occupational health professionals to recognize depression in a timely manner. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument for screening MDD, but has not been validated in the occupational health setting. The aim of this study was to validate the PHQ-9 for MDD within a population of employees on sickness leave by using the MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) as a gold standard. Methods Participants were recruited in collaboration with the occupational health service. The study sample consisted of 170 employees on sickness leave between 4 and 26 weeks who completed the PHQ-9 and were evaluated with the MINI by telephone. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, efficiency and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were calculated for all possible cut-off values. A receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis was computed for PHQ-9 score versus the MINI. Results The optimal cut-off value of the PHQ-9 was 10. This resulted in a sensitivity of 86.1 % [95 % CI (69.7–94.8)] and a specificity of 78.4 % [95 % CI (70.2–84.8)]. Based on the ROC analysis, the area under the curve for the PHQ-9 was 0.90 [SE = 0.02; 95 % CI (0.85–0.94)]. Conclusion The PHQ-9 shows good sensitivity and specificity as a screener for MDD within a population of employees on sickness leave.

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Title: Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for Major Depressive Disorder in the Occupational Health Setting
Authors: D. Volker
M. C. Zijlstra-Vlasveld
E. P. M. Brouwers
W. A. Homans
W. H. M. Emons
C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis
Publication date: 01-06-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-015-9607-0

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Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for Major Depressive Disorder in the Occupational Health Setting

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