Is asking patients in palliative care, "Are you depressed?" appropriate? Prospective study
- 14 August 2003
- Vol. 327 (7411) , 372-373
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.327.7411.372
Abstract
Screening for depression attracts wide interest, but as patients are frail and unwell, a screening tool needs to be brief. Asking North American patients in palliative care the single question, “Are you depressed?” had perfect sensitivity and specificity and 100% positive predictive value compared with the schedule for affective disorders.3 Other studies of patients with stroke and elderly patients found that a single statement with a “yes” or “no” response correctly classified more than 80% of people as depressed or not depressed.4 5Keywords
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