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Detecting Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South Africa: Validity of the isiXhosa Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Marlow, M; Skeen, S; Grieve, CM; Carvajal-Velez, L; Åhs, JW; Kohrt, BA; Requejo, J; Stewart, J; Henry, J; Goldstone, D; Kara, T; Tomlinson, M
Published in: J Adolesc Health
January 2023

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.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

EISSN

1879-1972

Publication Date

January 2023

Volume

72

Issue

1S

Start / End Page

S52 / S60

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • South Africa
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Public Health
  • Psychometrics
  • Patient Health Questionnaire
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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MLA
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Marlow, M., Skeen, S., Grieve, C. M., Carvajal-Velez, L., Åhs, J. W., Kohrt, B. A., … Tomlinson, M. (2023). Detecting Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South Africa: Validity of the isiXhosa Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. J Adolesc Health, 72(1S), S52–S60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.013
Marlow, Marguerite, Sarah Skeen, Caitlin M. Grieve, Liliana Carvajal-Velez, Jill W. Åhs, Brandon A. Kohrt, Jennifer Requejo, et al. “Detecting Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South Africa: Validity of the isiXhosa Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7.J Adolesc Health 72, no. 1S (January 2023): S52–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.013.
Marlow M, Skeen S, Grieve CM, Carvajal-Velez L, Åhs JW, Kohrt BA, et al. Detecting Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South Africa: Validity of the isiXhosa Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Jan;72(1S):S52–60.
Marlow, Marguerite, et al. “Detecting Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South Africa: Validity of the isiXhosa Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7.J Adolesc Health, vol. 72, no. 1S, Jan. 2023, pp. S52–60. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.013.
Marlow M, Skeen S, Grieve CM, Carvajal-Velez L, Åhs JW, Kohrt BA, Requejo J, Stewart J, Henry J, Goldstone D, Kara T, Tomlinson M. Detecting Depression and Anxiety Among Adolescents in South Africa: Validity of the isiXhosa Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Jan;72(1S):S52–S60.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Adolesc Health

DOI

EISSN

1879-1972

Publication Date

January 2023

Volume

72

Issue

1S

Start / End Page

S52 / S60

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • South Africa
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Public Health
  • Psychometrics
  • Patient Health Questionnaire
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female