Case-finding for mental distress in primary health care: An evaluation of the performance of a five-item screening instrument *

摘要: Background: There is an increased interest in developing better and more accurate methods to recognize manage mental health problems in primary care settings. Abbreviated screening instruments for mental distress are useful tools for research clinical practice. The present study seeks investigate whether only a few questionnaire items from the Self-Reporting- Questionnaire-10 (SRQ-10) can be robust method the screening Mental Distress Primary Health care. Methods: We compared the accuracy of short, five-item (SRQ-5) version SRQ-10 with that SRQ-20, General Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12) using DSM-IV axis as gold standard analyzed its performance different diagnostic entities. also assessed correlation, sensitivity specificity between 4 instruments. All were administered 400 health attendees. Results: The estimated prevalence mental was 13.6% in the sample (Depression 11%, anxiety disorders 1.8%). SRQ-5 highly correlated (0.923, p Conclusion: This validation showed moving from SRQ 10 or 20 one with merely 5 items, we do not seem lose prowess instrument. The represents simplified less time-consuming instrument with strong performance characteristics. therefore recommend it for inclusion into existing patient assessment protocols, thus enhancing case finding at level.