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Clinic-based depression screening in lung cancer patients using the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 depression questionnaires: a pilot study

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Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to validate the ability to perform depression screening with the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-2 and PHQ-9 depression modules in a busy, outpatient practice, and to evaluate the prevalence of depression among lung cancer outpatients at our institution.

Methods

In 2010, 64 patients in a thoracic malignancy clinic completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Patients endorsing either one or both items were then given the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a nine-item depression assessment tool. Patients with mild or worse depression were offered a referral to a mental health care provider.

Results

Eighteen of 64 patients (28 %) endorsed one or both items on the PHQ-2. Thirteen of 18 patients with a positive PHQ-2 screen completed the PHQ-9, with mean score of 10.2 (SD 3.91), suggesting moderate depression. PHQ-9 item 4, evaluating fatigue, was positive in 12 patients, and PHQ-9 item 9, evaluating suicidal ideation, was never reported. Only 1 of 18 patients with a positive PHQ-2 screen was being followed by a psychiatrist, and no patient accepted a new referral to a mental health provider.

Conclusions

The PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 modules are an effective means of depression screening in a busy, outpatient clinic. A high prevalence of depression was reported; yet, suicidal ideation was not reported. Depression severity ranged from mild to severe. The most endorsed PHQ-9 item was fatigue, although it is uncertain if this reflects a symptom of depression, a sequela of lung cancer itself, or both. The lung cancer patients in this sample who reported depression were unlikely to receive mental health services.

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Conflict of interest

All authors have no financial or other conflict of interest to report. The authors have full control of the primary data and agree for journal review of the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, No. 0987, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    J. Michael Randall, Erin Burnett & Lyudmila Bazhenova

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 2120 W. Washington St., Suite No. 101, San Diego, CA, 92110, USA

    Rochelle Voth

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Patient and Family Support Service, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, No. 0658, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Wayne A. Bardwell

Authors
  1. J. Michael Randall
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  2. Rochelle Voth
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  3. Erin Burnett
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  4. Lyudmila Bazhenova
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  5. Wayne A. Bardwell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Michael Randall.

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Randall, J.M., Voth, R., Burnett, E. et al. Clinic-based depression screening in lung cancer patients using the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 depression questionnaires: a pilot study. Support Care Cancer 21, 1503–1507 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1712-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1712-4

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