@article{ref1,
title="Automated telephone screening survey for depression",
journal="JAMA journal of the American Medical Association",
year="1995",
author="Baer, L. and Jacobs, D. G. and Cukor, P. and O'Laughlen, J. and Coyle, J. T. and Magruder, K. M.",
volume="273",
number="24",
pages="1943-1944",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To test the application of fully automated telephone screening using computerized digital voice recordings and touch-tone responses to assess symptoms of depression. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of a 2-week-long telephone survey. SETTING: Toll-free telephone calls placed from home, work, or school to a central telephone/computer system at a telecommunications company in the Boston, Mass, area. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1812 participants called the system. Of these, 278 were students and faculty at a large midwestern state university, 725 were employees of a large northeastern high-technology firm, and 809 did not identify which site they were calling from. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The 20-question multiple-choice Zung Depression Scale was used to screen for depressive symptoms, and additional questions gathered demographic and caller satisfaction information. RESULTS: No technical problems were encountered during the trial. Of 1812 callers, 1597 (88.1%) completed all questions. Of these, 412 callers (25.8%) met criteria for &quot;moderate or marked&quot; depression and another 194 (12.1%) met criteria for &quot;severe or extreme&quot; depression. The majority of callers scoring positive for depression had received no previous treatment for depression. Of callers who completed the screening questionnaire, 74.6% reported the call to have been at least &quot;moderately&quot; helpful. CONCLUSION: Readily available low-cost technology provides a fully automated, widely accessible, and confidential method of screening for a common mental illness.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0098-7484",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}