Psychometric analysis of the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) and determinants of psychopathology in two outpatient clinics in Navarre (Spain).

BACKGROUND: The self-report Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire PDSQ is designed to screen Axis I psychiatric disorders. We aim to determine its psychometric properties in Spanish outpatients and assess its relationship with two interviews (for psychopathology and for personality disorders) and clinical/demographic variables. METHODOLOGY: We administered the study questionnaire, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (MINI-Plus), the Standardised Assessment of Personality Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), and the List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire (LTE-Q) to 375 patients at two public outpatient centres. Reliability of the study questionnaire was evaluated (Cronbach's alpha, ?) and known-group validity measured by comparing groups based on demographic and clinical variables (binary logistic regression analysis) and MINI-Plus diagnoses (Mann-Whitney U). The diagnostic accuracy of the study questionnaire score was analysed taking the MINI-Plus diagnoses as the gold standard (ROC analysis). RESULTS: Internal consistency was adequate across all PDSQ scales (? >0.7; mean ?=0.85). Known-group comparisons were satisfactory. Female and male patients showed higher prevalence of internalizing and externalizing diagnoses, respectively. Younger age, more life events and limitations, higher SAPAS scores, and lower economic levels were linked to a greater number of PDSQ diagnoses. Inter-group differences were found for all PDSQ scales based on the corresponding MINI-Plus diagnoses. Mean values of sensitivity, AUC, and negative predictive value were 88.7, 0.82, and 96.7, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: When applied to a sample of Spanish outpatients, the PDSQ exhibits satisfactory psychometric properties and adequate relationships with the psychopathology and personality interviews, and clinical and demographic variables. The study questionnaire is suitable for assessing comorbidity and psychopathology dimensions.

Psychometric analysis of the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) and determinants of psychopathologyin two outpatient clinics in Navarre (Spain) / Estudio psicométrico del Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) y determinantes de psicopatología en dos centros ambulatoriosde Navarra (España)

Backgroun: The selfreport Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire PDSQ is designed to screen Axis I psychiatric disorders. We aim to determine its psychometric properties in Spanish outpatients and assess its relationship with two interviews (for psychopathology and for personality disorders) and clinical/demographic variables. Methodology: We administered the study questionnaire, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (MINIPlus), the Standardised Assessment of Personality Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), and the List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire (LTEQ) to 375 patients at two public outpatient centres. Reliability of the study questionnaire was evaluated (Cronbach’s alpha, a) and knowngroup validity measured by comparing groups based on demographic and clinical variables (binary logistic regression analysis) and MINIPlus diagnoses (MannWhitney U). The diagnostic accuracy of the study questionnaire score was analysed taking the MINIPlus diagnoses as the gold standard (ROC analysis). Results: Internal consistency was adequate across all PDSQ scales (a>0.7; mean a=0.85). Knowngroup comparisons were satisfactory. Female and male patients showed higher prevalence of internalizing and externalizing diagnoses, respectively. Younger age, more life events and limitations, higher SAPAS scores, and lower economic levels were linked to a greater number of PDSQ diagnoses. Intergroup differences were found for all PDSQ scales based on the corresponding MINIPlus diagnoses. Mean values of sensitivity, AUC, and negative predictive value were 88.7, 0.82, and 96.7, respectively. Conclusions: When applied to a sample of Spanish outpatients, the PDSQ exhibits satisfactory psychometric properties and adequate relationships with the psychopathology and personality interviews, and clinical and demographic variables. The study questionnaire is suitable for assessing comorbidity and psychopathology dimensions.(AU)

Fundamento: El PDSQ (Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire) es un cuestionario autoadministrado para el cribado de diagnósticos psiquiátricos del eje I. El objetivo es estudiar sus propiedades psicométricas en pacientes ambulatorios españoles y analizar su relación con dos entrevistas (de psicopatología y de trastornos de personalidad), y con variables clínicas y demográficas. Material y métodos: Se administraron los instrumentos PDSQ, MINIPlus, SAPAS, y LTE-Q a 375 pacientes en dos centros ambulatorios públicos. Se estudió la fiabilidad del PDSQ (α de Cronbach). La validez de grupos conocidos se analizó comparando subgrupos organizados por variables demográficas y clínicas (regresión logística binaria) y por diagnósticos MINI Plus (U de Mann-Whitney). Se estudió el desempeño diagnóstico del PDSQ considerando los diagnósticos MINI Plus como gold standard (análisis ROC). Resultados: La consistencia interna del PDSQ fue adecuada en todas las escalas (α >0,7; media=0,85). Las comparaciones entre grupos conocidos fueron satisfactorias. Mujeres y hombres mostraron prevalencias mayores de trastornos internalizantes y externalizantes, respectivamente. Una menor edad, más sucesos vitales y limitaciones, puntuaciones mayores en SAPAS y niveles económicos más bajos se relacionaron con mayor número de diagnósticos PDSQ. Los grupos basados en los correspondientes diagnósticos MINIPlus difirieron en todas las escalas del PDSQ. Los valores medios de sensibilidad, AUC y valor predictivo negativo fueron 88,7; 0,82 y 96,7, respectivamente. Conclusiones: En su aplicación a pacientes españoles ambulatorios, el PDSQ muestra, propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias y relaciones adecuadas con entrevistas de psicopatología y personalidad, así como con variables clínicas y demográficas. El PDSQ es adecuado para evaluar comorbilidad y dimensiones de psicopatología.(AU)

The network structure of self-reported psychopathological dimensions in common mental disorders (CMDs)

Background and objectives: Common mental disorders (CMDs) in mental health settings show high rates of comorbidities. While semi-structured interviews are the gold standard to establish a diagnosis, there are self-report instruments such as the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ) that aids clinicians in improving the diagnostic process in a time-efficient manner.MethodsNetwork analysis of the 13 domains of the PDSQ was applied to a sample of 374 first-contact outpatients to identify domains of psychopathology acting as hubs and bridges of interconnections within the CMDs.ResultsA global network densely connected with positive connections among PDSQ domains was found. The global network has four main clusters: depression-anxiety, somatoform, psychosis and substance-related domains. This network allowed for the identification of main ‘nodes’ acting as hubs favoring interconnections between dimensions and main ‘bridges’ easing the connections between clusters.ConclusionThe network structure of the PDSQ domains might provide a complementary explanation to the high rates of comorbidity among CMDs. Moreover, our results support the relevance of the self-administered PDSQ inventory to account for a deeper understanding of comorbidities among CMDs. (AU)