Screening for Depression and Psychological Distress in a Currently Serving Military Population: The Diagnostic Accuracy of the K10 and the PHQ9

Amelia K Searle; Miranda Van Hooff; Alexander C McFarlane; Christopher E Davies; Thao Tran; Stephanie E Hodson; Helen P Benassi; Nicole M Steele

doi:10.1177/1073191117745124

Screening for Depression and Psychological Distress in a Currently Serving Military Population: The Diagnostic Accuracy of the K10 and the PHQ9

Assessment. 2019 Dec;26(8):1411-1426. doi: 10.1177/1073191117745124. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Authors

Amelia K Searle¹, Miranda Van Hooff¹, Alexander C McFarlane¹, Christopher E Davies¹, Thao Tran^{1

2}, Stephanie E Hodson³, Helen P Benassi⁴, Nicole M Steele⁴

Affiliations

¹ University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
² Department of Health, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
³ Department of Veterans' Affairs, Canberra, Australia.
⁴ Department of Defence, Canberra, Australia.

PMID: 29192508
DOI: 10.1177/1073191117745124

Abstract

This study is the first to examine the diagnostic accuracy of two depression screening scales-the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-in an entire regular-serving military population. Currently serving Australian Defence Force personnel (n = 24,481) completed the K10 and PHQ9. Then a targeted subsample (i.e., the analysis sample, n = 1,730) completed a diagnostic interview to identify DSM-IV 30-day disorder. Weighted results represented the entire population (N = 50,049). Both scales similarly showed a good ability to discriminate between personnel with and without depressive disorders. Optimal cutoffs (19 for K10, 6 for PHQ9) showed high sensitivity and good specificity, and were similar to though slightly lower than those recommended in civilian populations. Both scales appear to be valid screens for depressive disorder in the military, using the cutoffs identified. As both performed similarly, scale choice may depend on other factors (e.g., availability of norms).

Keywords: K10; PHQ9; diagnostic accuracy; military; sensitivity and specificity.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adult
Australia
Depression / diagnosis*
Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Military Personnel / psychology*
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / standards*
ROC Curve
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity