Citation

Walker J, Hansen CH, Hodges L, Thekkumpurath P, O'Connor M, Sharma N, Kleiboer A, Murray G, Kroenke K, Sharpe M. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2010; 32(2): 218-220.

Affiliation

Psychological Medicine Research, University of Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK. jane.walker@ed.ac.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.11.011

PMID

20302999

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a higher score on Item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (range zero to three) was more likely to indicate suicidality as determined at subsequent clinical interview in cancer outpatients. METHOD: Analysis of anonymized data (with ethical approval) obtained from the routine clinical administration of self-report questionnaires and telephone interviews to patients attending a cancer centre in the UK. RESULTS: Complete data were available on 330 patients. Those with higher scores on the item were more likely to be suicidal at interview. However, a substantial number of those (54/235; 23%) who scored only one on the item were also found to be suicidal. CONCLUSIONS: A higher score on Item 9 of the PHQ-9 indicates a greater likelihood that the patient is suicidal. However, even patients who score only 1 may be suicidal and consequently also require further assessment.

Language: en