The article by Fischer and colleagues,1 based on data from the second wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS-2), proposes the use of a Bayesian framework to account for the ‘imperfect diagnostic accuracy’ of the eight-item version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and to improve estimations of the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD).
It is well-known that estimating the prevalence of specific mental disorders directly using the results from screening tools (ie, without attending at the possible false positives and negatives) could lead to overestimations.2 It should also be noted that the term ‘depression’ is used in the literature for describing a broad spectrum of conditions, from MDD to a range of other mental health conditions and symptoms, and that clarity is essential to avoid misunderstandings. In our own study,3 we used a broad definition of depression (including MDD, dysthymia…
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting an air purifier for my home for…
Background Evidence-based mental health requires patient-relevant outcome data, but many indicators lack clinical meaning and…
Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality due…
Background Depression alongside multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs) in older adults poses a critical public health…
Objectives Should a young person receive psychotherapy or medication for their depression and on what…
Background People with severe mental illness (SMI) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD),…