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Table 1 Operating characteristics of the number of PHQ-8 Days (range: 0 to 112 days) for identifying a major depressive episode as defined by DSM-IV-derived PHQ-8 criteria†

From: PHQ-8 Days: a measurement option for DSM-5 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) severity

PHQ-8 Days

Sensitivity

Specificity

Youden's J Index

<50

≥0.969

≤0.849

0.818

≥50

0.955

0.868

0.823

≥51

0.945

0.882

0.827

≥52

0.936

0.892

0.828

≥53

0.929

0.907

0.836

≥54

0.923

0.913

0.836

≥55

0.913

0.922

0.835

≥56

0.904

0.932

0.836

≥57

0.882

0.953

0.835

≥58

0.874

0.960

0.834

≥59

0.863

0.966

0.829

≥60

≤0.850

≥0.972

0.822

  1. †DSM-IV-derived PHQ-8 criterion: ≥ 5 symptoms present 'more than half the days' and at least one of which must be anhedonia or depression. Operating characteristics determined in respondents indicating ≥ 7 days of either anhedonia or depression (n = 22,542).