Validation of screening instruments for common mental disorders and suicide risk in South African primary care settings

dc.contributor.authorStockton, Melissa A.
dc.contributor.authorMazinyo, Ernesha Webb
dc.contributor.authorMlanjeni, Lungelwa
dc.contributor.authorSweetland, Annika C.
dc.contributor.authorScharf, Jodi Y.
dc.contributor.authorNogemane, Kwanda
dc.contributor.authorNgcelwane, Nondumiso
dc.contributor.authorBasaraba, Cale
dc.contributor.authorBezuidenhout, Charl
dc.contributor.authorSansbury, Griffin
dc.contributor.authorOlivier, David
dc.contributor.authorGrobler, Christoffel
dc.contributor.authorWall, Melanie M.
dc.contributor.authorMedina-Marino, Andrew
dc.contributor.authorNobatyi, Phumza
dc.contributor.authorWainberg, Milton L.
dc.date.accessioned2025-09-08T06:27:26Z
dc.date.available2025-09-08T06:27:26Z
dc.date.issued2024-10
dc.description.abstractINTRODUCTION : In South Africa, there is limited mental health infrastructure and resources. Valid screening tools are needed to facilitate identification and linkage to care. We evaluated the performance of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Primary Care Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) among adults in South Africa against a diagnostic gold standard. METHODS : Adults present at healthcare facilities were screened with the PHQ-9, GAD-7, PC-PTSD-5, and the C-SSRS. Nurses used a structured diagnostic interview to identify depression, anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD and elevated suicide risk. We assessed the internal consistency, criterion validity, and the sensitivity and specificity of these tools. RESULTS : Of the 1885 participants, the prevalence of common mental disorders and suicide risk was 24.4 % and 14.9 %, respectively. The PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PC-PTSD-5 showed good internal consistency (0.80–0.89). All screeners demonstrated good criterion validity. For depression, a cut-off of ≥5 on the PHQ-9 yielded sensitivity of 84.24 %, while ≥10 yielded sensitivity of 48.77 %. For anxiety, the GAD-7 performed similarly. A cut-off of ≥4 on the PC-PTSD yielded sensitivity of 61.96 %. The C-SSRS yielded lower sensitivity than expected. LIMITATIONS : The prevalence data is not generalizable to the larger South African adult population given the use of a targeted, healthcare facility-based sampling and recruitment strategy. CONCLUSIONS : The performance of the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PC-PTSD-5 demonstrated good internal consistency and criterion validity, though sensitivity and specificity trade-offs were enhanced with lower cut-offs. Further research into suicide risk screening is warranted. HIGHLIGHTS • The performance of PHQ-9, GAD-7, PC-PTSD-5 was acceptable among adults in South Africa. • Sensitivity and specificity trade-offs were enhanced using lower cut-offs. • The C-SSRS yielded lower sensitivity than expected.
dc.description.departmentSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)
dc.description.librarianhj2025
dc.description.sdgSDG-03: Good health and well-being
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Institute of Mental Health grants and the University of California Fogarty GloCal Health Fellowship.
dc.description.urihttps://www.elsevier.com/locate/jad
dc.identifier.citationStockton, M.A., Mazinyo, E.W., Mlanjeni, L., et al. 2024, 'Validation of screening instruments for common mental disorders and suicide risk in South African primary care settings', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 362, pp. 161-168, doi : 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.071.
dc.identifier.issn0165-0327 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1573-2517 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.071
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/104242
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.rights© 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Affective Disorders. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 362, pp. 161-168, 2024, doi : 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.071.
dc.subjectPatient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
dc.subjectGeneralized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
dc.subjectPrimary Care Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5)
dc.subjectColumbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
dc.subjectSouth Africa (SA)
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectAnxiety
dc.subjectPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
dc.subjectSuicide
dc.subjectScreening
dc.subjectValidation
dc.titleValidation of screening instruments for common mental disorders and suicide risk in South African primary care settings
dc.typePostprint Article

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