Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China

Abstract Background Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and PHQ-2 are commonly used screening tools for depression but have not been validated in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We aimed to validate PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 among COPD patients in China. Methods Stable COPD patients we...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Meishan Liu, Yuhan Chang, Dong Wang, Jiexin Fang, Shannon Carson, Boyu Li, Yongdong Hu, Kewu Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07052-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849238329491456000
author Meishan Liu
Yuhan Chang
Dong Wang
Jiexin Fang
Shannon Carson
Boyu Li
Yongdong Hu
Kewu Huang
author_facet Meishan Liu
Yuhan Chang
Dong Wang
Jiexin Fang
Shannon Carson
Boyu Li
Yongdong Hu
Kewu Huang
author_sort Meishan Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and PHQ-2 are commonly used screening tools for depression but have not been validated in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We aimed to validate PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 among COPD patients in China. Methods Stable COPD patients were assessed using a PHQ-9 questionnaire and then assessed by a senior psychiatrist to confirm the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to validate the PHQ-9/PHQ-2. Results Out of 265 COPD patients, 11.7% were diagnosed with MDD. The Cronbach’s α-coefficient for PHQ-9 was 0.751. Both PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 showed good correlations with COPD symptoms and quality of life. The AUC values of PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 were 0.848 and 0.736, respectively, for identifying MDD. Based on the highest Youden index, the optimal cut-off scores were PHQ-9 ≥ 7 and PHQ-2 ≥ 2, with a sensitivity of 74.2% and 58.1% and specificity of 89.7% and 89.3%, respectively. Conclusion PHQ-9 score ≥ 7 and PHQ-2 score ≥ 2 should be used as the optimal cut-offs for COPD patients in China. PHQ-9 is a valid tool for detecting MDD in COPD patients, while PHQ-2 (score < 2) is more useful for quickly excluding MDD.
format Article
id doaj-art-bc4d559bf14f44a0ba555eaec61ad850
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-244X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Psychiatry
spelling doaj-art-bc4d559bf14f44a0ba555eaec61ad8502025-08-20T04:01:41ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-07-012511910.1186/s12888-025-07052-3Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in ChinaMeishan Liu0Yuhan Chang1Dong Wang2Jiexin Fang3Shannon Carson4Boyu Li5Yongdong Hu6Kewu Huang7Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityUniversity of North Carolina Chapel HillDepartment of Pharmacy, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityAbstract Background Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and PHQ-2 are commonly used screening tools for depression but have not been validated in Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We aimed to validate PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 among COPD patients in China. Methods Stable COPD patients were assessed using a PHQ-9 questionnaire and then assessed by a senior psychiatrist to confirm the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to validate the PHQ-9/PHQ-2. Results Out of 265 COPD patients, 11.7% were diagnosed with MDD. The Cronbach’s α-coefficient for PHQ-9 was 0.751. Both PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 showed good correlations with COPD symptoms and quality of life. The AUC values of PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 were 0.848 and 0.736, respectively, for identifying MDD. Based on the highest Youden index, the optimal cut-off scores were PHQ-9 ≥ 7 and PHQ-2 ≥ 2, with a sensitivity of 74.2% and 58.1% and specificity of 89.7% and 89.3%, respectively. Conclusion PHQ-9 score ≥ 7 and PHQ-2 score ≥ 2 should be used as the optimal cut-offs for COPD patients in China. PHQ-9 is a valid tool for detecting MDD in COPD patients, while PHQ-2 (score < 2) is more useful for quickly excluding MDD.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07052-3Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseMajor depressive disorderPHQ-9PHQ-2ScreeningValidation
spellingShingle Meishan Liu
Yuhan Chang
Dong Wang
Jiexin Fang
Shannon Carson
Boyu Li
Yongdong Hu
Kewu Huang
Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China
BMC Psychiatry
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Major depressive disorder
PHQ-9
PHQ-2
Screening
Validation
title Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China
title_full Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China
title_fullStr Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China
title_full_unstemmed Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China
title_short Validation of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and PHQ-2 in patients with COPD in China
title_sort validation of the patient health questionnaire phq 9 and phq 2 in patients with copd in china
topic Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Major depressive disorder
PHQ-9
PHQ-2
Screening
Validation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07052-3
work_keys_str_mv AT meishanliu validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT yuhanchang validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT dongwang validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT jiexinfang validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT shannoncarson validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT boyuli validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT yongdonghu validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina
AT kewuhuang validationofthepatienthealthquestionnairephq9andphq2inpatientswithcopdinchina