Skip to main content

Table 1 Comparison of true depression prevalence and expected percentage of patients above a cutoff based on sensitivity and specificity from commonly used depression screening tools

From: Comparison of depression prevalence estimates in meta-analyses based on screening tools and rating scales versus diagnostic interviews: a meta-research review

True prevalence (%)

Sensitivity

Specificity

% above screening test cutoff

% above test cutoff—true prevalence

Ratio of % above test cutoff/true prevalence

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 ≥ 10 [9]

 5%

78%

87%

16%

11%

3.3

 10%

78%

87%

20%

10%

2.0

 15%

78%

87%

23%

8%

1.5

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ≥ 8 [10]

 5%

82%

74%

29%

24%

5.8

 10%

82%

74%

32%

22%

3.2

 15%

82%

74%

34%

19%

2.3

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale ≥ 11 [10]

 5%

56%

92%

10%

5%

2.1

 10%

56%

92%

13%

3%

1.3

 15%

56%

92%

15%

0%

1.0

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ≥ 12 [11]

 5%

86%

87%

17%

12%

3.3

 10%

86%

87%

20%

10%

2.0

 15%

86%

87%

24%

9%

1.6

Geriatric Depression Scale-15 ≥ 5 [12]

 5%

89%

77%

26%

21%

5.3

 10%

89%

77%

30%

20%

3.0

 15%

89%

77%

33%

18%

2.2