Simple way for identifying depression in general practice and primary care

What is it about?

This research is about the PSQ4D(Primary care Screening Questionnaire for Depression ), a four item verbal questionnaire we developed to identify depression. By asking four simple questions orally, depression can be identified easily in primary care and general practice. It takes only less than a minute to ask these four questions verbally. PSQ4D showed an excellent performance to correctly identify depression, when four questions were asked by the primary care physician while examining the patient

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Depression is very common in primary care and general practice , but is not identified and treated. Unidentified depression worsens other co-existing illnesses. It worsens the quality of life. Suicidal thoughts can be part of depression and patients may attempt suicide. Hence it is very important to identify depression . Existing good questionnaires are lengthy and time consuming. Existing brief tools have low specificity. It takes hardly one minute for the physician to ask the four questions in PSQ4D

Perspectives