Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 31, 2026

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
08:20

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: August 11, 2015

Rapid screening for major depression in post-myocardial infarction patients: an investigation using Beck Depression

J C Huffman1, F A Smith, M A Blais

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. jhuffman@partners.org

Heart (British Cardiac Society)
|April 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Screening for major depressive disorder (MDD) after myocardial infarction (MI) can be effectively done using one to two questions from the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) regarding sadness and loss of interest.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Depression is a common comorbidity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).
  • Early detection of major depressive disorder (MDD) is crucial for improving patient outcomes after MI.
  • The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) is a widely used tool for assessing depressive symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of three specific questions from the BDI-II in screening for MDD among hospitalized post-MI patients.
  • To determine the diagnostic accuracy of individual and combined BDI-II items for MDD detection in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective observational study was conducted with 131 post-MI patients within 72 hours of symptom onset.
  • Patients completed the BDI-II and underwent a structured diagnostic interview for MDD.
  • The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of individual BDI-II items (sadness, loss of interest, loss of pleasure) and their combinations were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Individual BDI-II items and two-question combinations demonstrated good sensitivity (76-94%) and specificity (70-88%).
  • A single question about sadness showed high accuracy in identifying MDD (over 80% correctly identified).
  • A combination of questions on sadness and loss of interest achieved the highest accuracy, identifying 94% of patients with MDD.

Conclusions:

  • One to two questions from the BDI-II, specifically those addressing sadness and loss of interest, are simple and effective screening tools for post-MI depression.
  • These brief screening questions can aid in the early identification of MDD in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method07:12

Individualized rTMS Treatment for Depression using an fMRI-Based Targeting Method

Published on: August 2, 2021

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder04:33

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Published on: April 26, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies01:30

Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies

Diagnosing acute coronary syndrome or ACS begins with a thorough patient history. Notable symptoms include central, crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm, neck, jaw, or back, along with shortness of breath, sweating (diaphoresis), nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and palpitations.It is crucial to note any history of cardiac illnesses and assess risk factors, including age, gender, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and a sedentary lifestyle.During physical examination, vital...
Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment01:29

Angina III: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment

Angina manifests as chest pain, tightness, or squeezing discomfort typically located behind the breastbone. It can radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders, and inner aspects of the upper arms, most commonly the left arm. Patients may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, profuse sweating, dizziness, indigestion, heartburn, palpitations, anxiety, and vomiting as accompanying symptoms. This pain often lasts a few minutes and is triggered by physical exertion, emotional stress, heavy meals, or cold...
Self-Report Tests of Personality01:22

Self-Report Tests of Personality

Self-report inventories are objective personality assessments that use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, typically ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). They are often called Likert scales after Rensis Likert. These inventories are widely used due to their ease of administration and cost-effectiveness. One of the most prominent examples is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), initially developed in the 1940s to assess abnormal personality traits.