Reliability and Validity of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 as a Screening Tool for Poststroke Depression

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Screening for poststroke depression (PSD) is crucial for stroke survivor care.
• The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is a potential tool for PSD screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on the specificity, sensitivity, and appropriateness of the PHQ-9 for screening PSD in stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature search of peer-reviewed primary research published between 2012 and 2018.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies examining PHQ-9's specificity and sensitivity for PSD in stroke survivors.

Main Results:

• Six studies (930 participants) met inclusion criteria; evidence level was 'B'.
• Only two studies provided sufficient data to assess the PHQ-9's robustness for PSD screening in stroke survivors.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence on the PHQ-9's sensitivity and specificity for PSD screening in stroke patients is inconclusive.
• Additional research is required to establish the PHQ-9's appropriateness for this population.
• Clinicians should confirm PHQ-9 results with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 before PSD treatment.