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Reliability and Score Ranges of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in a Primary and Secondary Care Mental Health Service

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Abstract

The reliability of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 as measures of depression and anxiety is well established in primary care. The present study evaluates whether or not differences occur for patients cared within a primary versus secondary mental health service. Pre-treatment scores for patients were included in a cross-sectional cohort design. Reliability of the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 ranged from “acceptable” to “excellent”. Reliability and overall scores did not significantly differ between services. However many clients in both groups scored the maximum score on the GAD-7 and there were few differences in scores based on diagnosis for both measures. The PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 are reliable measures of depression and anxiety symptoms for patients cared within a primary or secondary mental health service. However, the GAD-7 has a ceiling effect and both measures may not distinguish between services and diagnosis and therefore may not be useful for screening purposes.

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Notes

  1. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were routinely administered together in primary care whereas in secondary care either or both measures were administered dependant on the type of psychotherapy to which the patient was assigned.

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to the voluntary research assistants who helped with data entry, and Sue Sadler for helping with collating questionnaires.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Health Recovery Team North, Solent NHS Trust, St. Mary’s Community Health Campus, Milton Road, Portsmouth, POE 6AD, UK

    Thomas Richardson, Mma Yeebo & Anna Lisicka

  2. School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Thomas Richardson

  3. Talking Change, 8F The Pompey Centre, Fratton Way, Portsmouth, PO4 8TA, UK

    Miles Wrightman

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  1. Thomas Richardson
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  2. Miles Wrightman
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  3. Mma Yeebo
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  4. Anna Lisicka
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Correspondence to Thomas Richardson.

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Richardson, T., Wrightman, M., Yeebo, M. et al. Reliability and Score Ranges of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in a Primary and Secondary Care Mental Health Service. J. Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health 4, 237–240 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-017-0090-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-017-0090-0

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