A nurse is assessing a patient with major depressive disorder (MDD). Which assessment tool can the nurse use to measure the severity and impact of depression on the patient’s functioning?
A GAD-7.
B BAI.
C PHQ-9.
D CAGE.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is C PHQ-9.
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used assessment tool for measuring the severity of major depressive disorder (MDD) and the impact of depression on a patient’s functioning. This self-report questionnaire consists of nine items, each corresponding to one of the nine diagnostic criteria for MDD outlined in the DSM-5. The items assess the frequency of depressive symptoms over the past two weeks, including mood, interest in activities, sleep disturbances, fatigue, appetite changes, feelings of worthlessness, concentration difficulties, and thoughts of death or suicide.
The PHQ-9 is valued for its simplicity, ease of administration, and effectiveness in screening for depression, monitoring treatment response, and assessing the severity of depressive symptoms. Each item is rated on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day), with higher total scores indicating more severe depression. The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with cut-off scores used to categorize the severity of depression (mild, moderate, severe).
In contrast, the other tools listed are not as specific to depression:
- A GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) is designed to screen for generalized anxiety disorder and does not specifically measure depression.
- B BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory) is used to assess the severity of anxiety symptoms, not depression.
- D CAGE is a brief screening tool for alcohol use disorders and is not intended for assessing depression.
Overall, the PHQ-9 is a comprehensive tool that provides a clear picture of the severity and impact of depression, making it an essential instrument for nurses and healthcare providers in managing patients with MDD.