Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression

Abstract Background The Distress Thermometer (DT) is worldwide the most commonly used instrument for quick screening of emotional burden in patients with cancer. In order to validate the Greek version of the DT in the Greek population we aimed to explore the capacity of the DT to identify patients w...

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Main Authors: M. Kyranou, C. Varvara, M. Papathanasiou, Ι. Diakogiannis, K. Zafeiropoulos, M. Apostolidis, C. Papandreou, M. Syngelakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-11-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02926-0
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author M. Kyranou
C. Varvara
M. Papathanasiou
Ι. Diakogiannis
K. Zafeiropoulos
M. Apostolidis
C. Papandreou
M. Syngelakis
author_facet M. Kyranou
C. Varvara
M. Papathanasiou
Ι. Diakogiannis
K. Zafeiropoulos
M. Apostolidis
C. Papandreou
M. Syngelakis
author_sort M. Kyranou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Distress Thermometer (DT) is worldwide the most commonly used instrument for quick screening of emotional burden in patients with cancer. In order to validate the Greek version of the DT in the Greek population we aimed to explore the capacity of the DT to identify patients with comorbid depressive diagnosis. Methods We analyzed the routinely collected clinical data from 152 patients with cancer who had been evaluated by the consultation-liaison psychiatric service and had received a diagnosis of either depressive disorder or no psychiatric diagnosis. The score of the DT accompanied by the list of problems in the Problem List, the depression status, and the clinical and demographic characteristics entered the data sheet. Results The ROC analysis revealed that the DT achieved a significant discrimination with an area under the curve of 0.79. At a cut-off point of 4, the DT identified 85% of the patients with an ICD-10 depressive diagnosis (sensitivity) and 60% of the patients without a psychiatric diagnosis (specificity). The positive predictive value was 44%, the negative predictive value 92% and the diagnostic odd ratio 8.88. Fatigue and emotional difficulties were the most commonly reported problems by the patients. Conclusion The Greek version of the DT has a sufficient overall accuracy in classifying patients regarding the existence of depressive disorders, in the oncology setting. Therefore, it can be considered as a valid initial screening tool for depression in patients with cancer; patients scoring ≥4 should be assessed by a more thorough mental evaluation.
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spelling doaj.art-515851829f4e4861bfec0d9b783f15f62022-12-21T18:22:51ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2020-11-012011910.1186/s12888-020-02926-0Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depressionM. Kyranou0C. Varvara1M. Papathanasiou2Ι. Diakogiannis3K. Zafeiropoulos4M. Apostolidis5C. Papandreou6M. Syngelakis7Department of Nursing, Cyprus University of TechnologyPsycho-oncology Service, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine; First Psychiatric Clinic, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou HospitalPsycho-oncology Service, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine; First Psychiatric Clinic, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou HospitalPsycho-oncology Service, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine; First Psychiatric Clinic, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou HospitalDepartment of International and European Studies, University of MacedoniaDepartment of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou HospitalDepartment of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou HospitalPsycho-oncology Service, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine; First Psychiatric Clinic, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou HospitalAbstract Background The Distress Thermometer (DT) is worldwide the most commonly used instrument for quick screening of emotional burden in patients with cancer. In order to validate the Greek version of the DT in the Greek population we aimed to explore the capacity of the DT to identify patients with comorbid depressive diagnosis. Methods We analyzed the routinely collected clinical data from 152 patients with cancer who had been evaluated by the consultation-liaison psychiatric service and had received a diagnosis of either depressive disorder or no psychiatric diagnosis. The score of the DT accompanied by the list of problems in the Problem List, the depression status, and the clinical and demographic characteristics entered the data sheet. Results The ROC analysis revealed that the DT achieved a significant discrimination with an area under the curve of 0.79. At a cut-off point of 4, the DT identified 85% of the patients with an ICD-10 depressive diagnosis (sensitivity) and 60% of the patients without a psychiatric diagnosis (specificity). The positive predictive value was 44%, the negative predictive value 92% and the diagnostic odd ratio 8.88. Fatigue and emotional difficulties were the most commonly reported problems by the patients. Conclusion The Greek version of the DT has a sufficient overall accuracy in classifying patients regarding the existence of depressive disorders, in the oncology setting. Therefore, it can be considered as a valid initial screening tool for depression in patients with cancer; patients scoring ≥4 should be assessed by a more thorough mental evaluation.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02926-0DistressAssessmentOncologyOutpatient chemotherapyPsychiatric interview
spellingShingle M. Kyranou
C. Varvara
M. Papathanasiou
Ι. Diakogiannis
K. Zafeiropoulos
M. Apostolidis
C. Papandreou
M. Syngelakis
Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
BMC Psychiatry
Distress
Assessment
Oncology
Outpatient chemotherapy
Psychiatric interview
title Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
title_full Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
title_fullStr Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
title_full_unstemmed Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
title_short Validation of the Greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
title_sort validation of the greek version of the distress thermometer compared to the clinical interview for depression
topic Distress
Assessment
Oncology
Outpatient chemotherapy
Psychiatric interview
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02926-0
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