The Potential Utility of the Patient Health Questionnaire as a Screener for Psychiatric Comorbidity in a Chronic Disabling Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorder Population

Sali Asih, Tom G. Mayer, E. Mc Kenna Bradford, Randy Neblett, Mark J. Williams, Meredith M. Hartzell, Robert J. Gatchel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The patient health questionnaire (PHQ) is designed for screening psychopathology in primary care settings. However, little is known about its clinical utility in other chronic pain populations, which usually have high psychiatric comorbidities. Design: A consecutive cohort of 546 patients with chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorder (CDOMD) was administered and compared upon psychosocial assessments, including the PHQ and a structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Four PHQ modules were assessed: major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), and alcohol use disorders (AUD) [including both alcohol abuse and dependence]. Based on the SCID diagnosis, sensitivity and specificity were determined. Results: The specificity of the PHQ ranged from moderate to high for all 4 PHQ modules (MDD, 0.79; GAD, 0.67; PD, 0.89; AUD, 0.97). However, the sensitivity was relatively low: MDD (0.58); GAD (0.61); PD (0.49); and AUD (0.24). The PHQ was also associated with psychosocial variables. Patients whose PHQ showed MDD, GAD, or PD reported significantly more depressive symptoms and perceived disability than patients who did not (Ps < 0.001). Patients with MDD or GAD reported significantly higher pain than those without (Ps < 0.001). Conclusions: The strong specificity of the PHQ appears to be its primary strength for this cohort. Due to its high specificity, the PHQ could be employed as an additional screening tool to help rule out potential psychiatric comorbidity in patients with CDOMD. The low sensitivity of the PHQ in this population, however, remains a weakness of the PHQ.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)168-174
Number of pages7
JournalPain Practice
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2016

Keywords

  • Alcohol use
  • Chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders
  • Functional restoration
  • Generalized anxiety
  • Major depressive
  • Panic disorder
  • Patient health questionnaire
  • Psychiatric
  • Structured clinical interview of DSM

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Potential Utility of the Patient Health Questionnaire as a Screener for Psychiatric Comorbidity in a Chronic Disabling Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorder Population'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this