Psychiatry

Depression screening and monitoring with PHQ-9

Depression assessment and monitoring is supported by the most extensively validated tools in psychiatry. The PHQ-9 (sensitivity 88%, specificity 88% at ≥10) serves as both a diagnostic aid and a severity measure for major depressive disorder, with its item 9 providing a validated single-item suicide ideation screen. The MADRS, with greater sensitivity to treatment change than the HAM-D, is the preferred endpoint in antidepressant RCTs. The QIDS-SR-16, validated in the STAR*D trial (n=2,876), enables reliable self-reported assessment aligned with DSM-5 criterion domains.

Anxiety disorder assessment across the diagnostic spectrum

Anxiety disorder assessment covers the full diagnostic spectrum. The GAD-7 (sensitivity 89%, specificity 82% at ≥10) screens for generalized anxiety disorder while the PDSS and PHQ-Panic module address panic disorder specifically. The LSAS remains the FDA-preferred endpoint for social anxiety disorder pharmacotherapy trials. The SCARED (41-item) provides validated pediatric anxiety screening across separation anxiety, social anxiety, panic, and school avoidance domains.

Psychosis and bipolar disorder severity scoring

Psychosis and bipolar disorder assessment tools are critical for treatment selection and monitoring. The PANSS (30-item, FDA/EMA regulatory standard) and BPRS (18-item) quantify schizophrenia severity and treatment response. The YMRS (11-item, ICC 0.93-0.97) and the ASRM (5-item, sensitivity 85%) provide mania severity measurement, while the MDQ and HCL-32 screen for bipolar spectrum disorders including bipolar II. The AIMS, SAS, and BARS scales monitor antipsychotic-induced movement disorders including tardive dyskinesia, parkinsonism, and akathisia.