Form Phq-4, An Ultra-Brief Screening Scale For Anxiety And Depression printable pdf download

Form Phq-4, An Ultra-Brief Screening Scale For Anxiety And Depression

An Ultra-Brief Screening Scale for Anxiety and Depression: the PHQ-4

The Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4) was developed to create an ultra-

brief screener for depression and anxiety for use during outpatient or home visits any time during

pregnancy or up to one year postpartum. The PHQ-4 can be administered by health care personnel or it

can be self-administered. The PHQ-4 combines two validated two-item screeners. A recent study found

that increasing PHQ-4 scores were strongly associated with functional impairment, disability days, and

health care use, and that anxiety had a substantial effect on functional status that was independent of

depression (Kroenke et al.). Total score is determined by adding together the scores for each of the 4

items. Scores are rated as normal (0-2), mild (3-5), moderate (6-8), and severe (9-12). Any woman with

a positive screen (mild, moderate or severe) should be assessed for suicidal ideation. A positive score,

the presence of suicidal ideation and/or your clinical judgment can indicate that further assessment is

warranted. Immediate referral is recommended for those with suicidal ideation and/or a severe score.

Women with a mild or moderate screen could be provided with education and resource information, and

re-screened at a later visit as appropriate. The PHQ-4 is only a screening tool and does not diagnose

depression – that is done by appropriately licensed health care personnel.

Reference: Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JBW, Löwe B. An Ultra-Brief Screening Scale for

Anxiety and Depression: the PHQ-4. Psychosomatics. In press.

Form Phq-4, An Ultra-Brief Screening Scale For Anxiety And Depression