Abstract
Purpose: Screening tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) could potentially be used in resource-limited settings to identify adolescents who need mental health support. We examined the criterion validity of the isiXhosa versions of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in detecting depression and anxiety among adolescents (10–19 years) in South Africa. Methods: Adolescents were recruited from the general population and from nongovernmental organizations working with adolescents in need of mental health support. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were culturally adapted and translated into isiXhosa and administered to 302 adolescents (56.9% female). The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was administered by trained clinicians as the gold standard diagnostic measure for depression and anxiety. Results: For the PHQ-9, the area under the curve was 0.88 for the full sample of adolescents (10–19 years old). A score of ≥10 had 91% sensitivity and 76% specificity for detecting adolescents with depression. For the GAD-7, the area under the curve was 0.78, and cutoff scores with an optimal sensitivity-specificity balance were low (≥6). A score of ≥6 had 67% sensitivity and 75% specificity for detecting adolescents with anxiety. Discussion: The culturally adapted isiXhosa version of the PHQ-9 can be used as a valid measure for depression in adolescents. Further research on the GAD-7 for use with adolescents is recommended.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | S52-S60 |
Journal | Journal of Adolescent Health |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescents
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Diagnostic assessment
- GAD-7
- Low- and middle-income countries
- Mental health
- PHQ-9
- Screening
- Validity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health