The “GHU-Checkist”: Validity and acceptability of a 17-words checklist for rapid screening of depressive symptoms and anxiety

• Fabienne El-Khoury ^[1] ; Justine Lahaye ^[2] ; Camille Oudinet ^[3] ; Pierre Alexis Geoffroy ^[4] ; Enrique Casalino ^[3] ; Christophe Choquet ^[3] ; Florence Perquier ^[5] ; Michel Lejoyeux ^[6]
  1. [1] Department of Epidemiology, GHU Paris - Psychiatry & Neurosciences. Paris / Sorbonne Université, INSERM UMR_S 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique IPLESP, Paris, France
  2. [2] Department of Epidemiology, GHU Paris - Psychiatry & Neurosciences, París. Francia
  3. [3] Emergency Service, AP-HP, University Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard AP-HP, París. Francia
  4. [4] Department of Psychiatry and Addictive Medicine, Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP)/ Paris University, Paris, Francia
  5. [5] Department of Epidemiology, GHU Paris - Psychiatry & Neurosciences,
  6. [6] Department of Epidemiology, GHU Paris - Psychiatry & Neurosciences/ Paris University /Department of Psychiatry and Addictive Medicine, Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Paris, Francia

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• Localización: European journal of psychiatry, ISSN 0213-6163, Vol. 36, Nº 4, 2022, págs. 238-245
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpsy.2022.03.002
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  • Background and objectives Early detection of psychiatric disorders in general hospital settings could facilitate a systematic assessment of anxiety and depression, and lessen their non-detection, misdiagnoses and subsequent negative impacts. We built a new short screening tool with simple Yes/No questions on anxiety and depression and examined its diagnostic capacity and acceptability.

    Methods Our cross-sectional study included 608 patients examined in an emergency department at a Parisian general hospital. Their depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7). Participants also completed the ‘GHU-checklist’, a list of 17 words evoking moods or feelings. Sensitivity and specificity of the checklist were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

    Results 22.7% of participants had depressive symptoms as measured by the PHQ-9, while 25.4% suffered from moderate or severe anxiety. Most participants perceived positively the GHU-checklist, which had a sensitivity of 81.5% in distinguishing patients with depressive symptoms. Sensitivity was 86.0% for moderate anxiety and 94.7% for severe anxiety. The specificity ranged from 64.3% to 71.1%.

    Conclusions A short 17-words checklist is able to ultra-rapidly screen for depressive and anxiety symptoms in non-psychiatric medical settings, and was perceived positively by patients. Its systematic use could facilitate a rapid and systematic assessment of these symptoms, especially in crowded and under-staffed settings such as the emergency department.