scholarly journals Standardization of mental health assessment – using item response theory (IRT) to cross-calibrate two self-reported mental health tools: The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the SF-36v2 mental health (MH) scale

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. A200
Author(s):  
J.B. Bjorner ◽  
M.K. White ◽  
A.S. Yarlas
Salud Mental ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50
Author(s):  
Sabrina Martins Barroso ◽  
Ana Paula Souto Melo ◽  
Mônia Aparecida da Silva ◽  
Mark Drew Crosland Guimarães

Introduction. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is one of the most validated tools used to detect depressive episodes in Brazil. Objective. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the PHQ-9 using the Item Response Theory. Method. We used the gradual response model to assess depression in 764 residents of Brazilian rural communities of descended from slaves (quilombos) from the county of Vitória da Conquista, state of Bahia, Brazil, who had responded to PHQ-9. We estimated the parameters for item discrimination and difficulty. Results. The items of the PHQ-9 showed the ability to discriminate from moderate to very high. The items evaluating thoughts of hurting oneself and death showed the greatest discrimination while feeling depressed showed the lowest discrimination. Discussion and conclusion. The Item Response Theory enables advances in the analysis of the psychometric properties of the screening tools assessing depression, and indicates that PHQ-9 can be used in rural populations in Brazil.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Hyun Lee ◽  
Dayoung Lee ◽  
Soyoen Hyun ◽  
Ji Sun Hong ◽  
Chang-Hoon Kim ◽  
...  

Experiences of infectious diseases cause stressful and traumatic life events, hence, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients could suffer from various mental health problems requiring psychological support services. This study investigates the severity of mental health problems among confirmed COVID-19 patients. From March to November 2020, we collected the data from 118 COVID-19 patients who voluntarily participated in the National Center for Disaster Trauma's online mental health assessment consisting of self-report scales like Primary Care of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder screen (PC-PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), and P4 Suicidality Screener. For control, 116 other disaster-experienced and 386 non-COVID-19-experienced participants were recruited. The COVID-19 patients showed more severe symptoms including post-traumatic symptoms, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms than control groups across all four screening scales (p < 0.001). Regarding high-risk, COVID-19 patients had an increased association with high-risk compared to the comparison groups (PC-PTSD: OR = 24.16, 95% CI = 13.52–43.16 p < 0.001; PHQ-9: OR = 14.45, 95% CI = 8.29–25.19, p < 0.001; GAD-7: OR=20.71, 95% CI = 10.74–39.96, p < 0.001; PHQ-15: OR = 5.65, 95% CI = 3.44–9.25, p < 0.001; P4: OR = 14.67, 95% CI = 8.95–25.07, p < 0.001). This study's results imply that there is a high-risk of overall mental health problems, especially stronger associations of post-traumatic stress symptoms, in COVID-19 patients. These findings help inform practitioners about the psychological responses to COVID-19 experiences and to prepare appropriate interventions and services for the incremental number of confirmed cases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (04) ◽  
pp. 190-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Bohlken ◽  
Friederike Schömig ◽  
Matthias R. Lemke ◽  
Matthias Pumberger ◽  
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller

Zusammenfassung Ziel Darstellung von Studien zur psychischen Belastung von medizinischem Personal unter Bedingungen der COVID-19-Pandemie. Methodik PubMed-gestützte Suche mit den Stichworten COVID 19“, „stress“, „mental health“, „healthcare worker“, „staff“, „psychiatry“. Eingeschlossen wurden quantitative Studien, (inkl. „Letter to the editor“) zur Belastung des medizinischen Personals im Zeitraum von Januar bis März 2020. Ergebnisse Es wurden 14 Studien mit Klinikpersonal aus Infektionsabteilungen, Abteilungen für Fieberkranke, Abteilungen der Inneren Medizin inklusive Intensivstationen sowie der Chirurgie und Psychiatrie identifiziert. Am häufigsten wurden der Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), die Self-rating-Anxiety Scale (SAS) und die Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) verwendet. Die Stichprobengröße schwankte zwischen 37 und 1257 Personen des überwiegend pflegerischen und ärztlichen Personals. Der Anteil an COVID-19-nahen Tätigkeiten schwankte zwischen 7,5 % und 100 %. Es wurde eine erhebliche Belastung durch Stresserleben, depressive und ängstliche Symptome berichtet. Schwere Ausprägungsgrade fanden sich bei 2,2–14,5 % der Befragten. Die Ausprägung der psychischen Symptomatik wurde beeinflusst durch Alter, Geschlecht, Berufsgruppe, Fachrichtung, Art der Tätigkeit und die Nähe zu COVID-19-Patienten. Als Mediatorvariablen wurden das Personalmanagement, die präventive Intervention, die Resilienz und vorhandene soziale Unterstützung angesehen. Schlussfolgerung Angesichts der Häufigkeit psychischer Symptome bei medizinischem Personal erscheinen begleitende psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutisch informierte Interventionen notwendig, um eine Bewältigung zu unterstützen. Eine schnell einsetzende Forschung ist in diesem Bereich wünschenswert.


Author(s):  
Anju Devianee Keetharuth ◽  
Jakob Bue Bjorner ◽  
Michael Barkham ◽  
John Browne ◽  
Tim Croudace ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose ReQoL-10 and ReQoL-20 have been developed for use as outcome measures with individuals aged 16 and over, experiencing mental health difficulties. This paper reports modelling results from the item response theory (IRT) analyses that were used for item reduction. Methods From several stages of preparatory work including focus groups and a previous psychometric survey, a pool of items was developed. After confirming that the ReQoL item pool was sufficiently unidimensional for scoring, IRT model parameters were estimated using Samejima’s Graded Response Model (GRM). All 39 mental health items were evaluated with respect to item fit and differential item function regarding age, gender, ethnicity, and diagnosis. Scales were evaluated regarding overall measurement precision and known-groups validity (by care setting type and self-rating of overall mental health). Results The study recruited 4266 participants with a wide range of mental health diagnoses from multiple settings. The IRT parameters demonstrated excellent coverage of the latent construct with the centres of item information functions ranging from − 0.98 to 0.21 and with discrimination slope parameters from 1.4 to 3.6. We identified only two poorly fitting items and no evidence of differential item functioning of concern. Scales showed excellent measurement precision and known-groups validity. Conclusion The results from the IRT analyses confirm the robust structure properties and internal construct validity of the ReQoL instruments. The strong psychometric evidence generated guided item selection for the final versions of the ReQoL measures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 2572-2585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben J. Riley ◽  
David Smith ◽  
Michael F. Baigent

The rate of females imprisoned worldwide has increased by more than 50% during the last two decades, with recent figures suggesting that, worldwide, the female prison population may still be increasing at a faster rate than males. Despite prevalence rates for psychiatric conditions among female prisoners being significantly higher than males, there is a particular lack of programs specifically designed for women. This preliminary study evaluates the initial effectiveness of a mindfulness and acceptance–based group program in an uncontrolled pragmatic pilot study of a heterogeneous group of incarcerated women with a range of mental health issues. Participants were 59 incarcerated women who engaged in a 10-session group program. Outcome measures comprised the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, and three screening tools derived from the full version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), to measure depression, binge eating (Patient Health Questionnaire–Binge Eating Disorder [PHQ-ED]), and somatoform disorders (PHQ-15). Results of linear mixed modelling showed improvements in mindfulness and acceptance, and reductions in depression, anxiety, and somatoform symptoms. Furthermore, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was shown to be an acceptable and feasible intervention for female Indigenous Australian prisoners. A mindfulness and acceptance–based group approach appears to be feasible and acceptable in a prison environment for a female prisoners with a range of mental health symptomatology.


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