Ultra-short screening instruments for depression in primary care

Article Type: Reviews of effectiveness From: Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Volume 13, Issue 3

A.J. Mitchell, and J.C. Coyne (2007), “Do ultra-short screening instruments accurately detect depression in primary care: a pooled analysis and meta-analysis of 22 studies”

British Journal of General PracticeVol. 57pp. 144-51

This review concluded that the sensitivity of single-question tests for detecting depression is unacceptable for use in primary care, and that two- or three-question tests have better sensitivity but higher false-positive rates. The review suffered from a number of limitations, particularly the failure to consider differences between the studies. These conclusions are therefore unlikely to be reliable.