The utility of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System in screening for anxiety and depression

摘要: The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is a common screening tool in cancer, although its validity for distress unproven. Here, performance of the ESAS anxiety (ESAS-A) and depression (ESAS-D) items were validated against [Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)] [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)] subscales PHQ. A total 1215 cancer patients completed Distress Response Tool (DART), computerised instrument. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients receiver operating characteristic curve analyses used to evaluate ability ESAS-A ESAS-D identify moderate (GAD-7/PHQ-9 ≥ 10). comparing with GAD-7 PHQ-9 0.74 0.72 respectively. Areas under curves 0.89 0.88 cut-off ≥3 on demonstrated sensitivity 0.91, specificity 0.68, positive predictive value 0.34 negative 0.97. ≥2 0.86, 0.72, 0.46 0.95. High sensitivities at certain cut-offs suggest they have use ruling-out distress. However, their low specificities indicate secondary needed rule-in or case-finding.