Development and validation of the SDDS-PC screen for multiple mental disorders in primary care

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health Screening

Background:

• Mental disorders are prevalent in primary care settings.
• Early identification and management of mental health conditions are crucial.
• Existing screening tools may not adequately address multiple disorders simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a patient-completed screening tool for multiple mental disorders.
• To assess the screen's performance in a primary care population.
• To establish the screen's utility in guiding diagnostic interviews.

Main Methods:

• A 62-item self-report screen was developed for nine mental disorders and suicidal ideation.
• Validation involved comparison with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R diagnoses.
• Studies were conducted across three family practices in Rhode Island and one in South Carolina.

Main Results:

• A 16-item screen demonstrated acceptable sensitivity and specificity for various disorders.
• Key findings included high sensitivity for generalized anxiety disorder (90%) and major depression (90%).
• Cross-validation confirmed the screen's operating characteristics in a new patient sample.

Conclusions:

• The Symptom-Driven Diagnostic System for Primary Care screen is a valid, patient-friendly tool.
• It facilitates the recognition and management of common mental disorders in primary care.
• The screen aids clinicians in selecting appropriate diagnostic modules for positive screens.