Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Keywords
Depression, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychometrics, Veterans
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312116643906
Abstract
Objectives: Optimal depression screening necessitates measurement tools that are valid across varied populations and in the presence of comorbidities.
Methods: This study assessed the test properties of two versions of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale against psychiatric diagnoses established by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview among a clinical sample of US Veterans deployed during Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. Participants (N = 359) recruited from two Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals completed a clinical interview, structured diagnostic interview, and self-reported measures.
Results: Based on diagnostic interview and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition criteria, 29.5% of the sample met diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and 26.5% met diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Both Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-20 and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-10 scales performed well and almost identically against the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-major depressive disorder in identifying Veterans with major depressive disorder (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-20 area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve 91%; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-10 area under the ROC curve 90%). Overall, higher cut points for the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scales performed better in correctly identifying true positives and true negatives for major depressive disorder (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-20 cut point 18+ sensitivity 92% specificity 72%; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression-10 cut point 10+ sensitivity 92% specificity 69%).
Conclusions: The specificity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scales was poor among Veterans with co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (13% and 16%). Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who have a positive depression screen should have a more thorough assessment of mental health symptoms and comorbidities, rather than immediate diagnosis of and treatment for depression.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
SAGE Open Medicine, v. 4, p. 1-8
Scholar Commons Citation
Quiñones, Ana R.; Thielke, Stephen M.; Clark, Michael E.; Phillips, Kristin M.; Elnitsky, Christine; and Andresen, Elena M., "Validity of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in a Sample of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans" (2016). Psychology Faculty Publications. 2444.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/2444
