An Ultra-Brief 2-Item Depression Screening Tool for Correctional Populations

Abstract

Although a number of depression screening instruments exist for use primarily in community mental health and medical settings, few have been validated on correctional populations. This study sought to examine the clinical utility of six different 2-item pairs in identifying risk for DSM-5 major depressive episode among a sample of county jail inmates. Data for the current report were derived from routine clinical assessments of 283 inmates recently admitted to a county jail. All inmates were administered the depression screening items as part of a structured diagnostic assessment interview to identify mental health needs. Results revealed that the best performing 2-item screen involved the combination of ''difficulty concentrating'' and ''lack of energy,'' which represented the best balance of sensitivity (85.5%) and specificity (76.6%). Screening for major depression using as few as two items can be a valid and efficient strategy in identifying risk for major depressive episode among jail inmates.

Measuring physical literacy for an evidence-based approach: Validation of the French perceived physical literacy instrument for emerging adults

“… 58 Moreover, some studies point out that it may be acceptable to use tools with fewer than three items. 67 , 68 …”

Racial Differences in Self-Report of Mental Illness and Mental Illness Treatment in the Community: An Analysis of Jail Intake Data

“…National jail healthcare accreditation organizations recommend mental health screenings for active suicidality (Berman & Canning, 2021 ; Folsom et al, 2006 ), or signs of schizophrenia (e.g., hallucinations) (Folsom et al, 2006 ), but there is less clarity in recommendations for screening for anxiety, depression, or trauma-related illnesses. When jails implement screening for mental illness, it is often part of a quality improvement, or implementation project, and even when successful, the experiences of jails are infrequently adopted by other jails (Gibbons et al, 2019 ; Juarros-Basterretxea et al, 2021 ; Proctor et al, 2021 ). The barriers in converting efficacious screening tools are likely multi-factorial, related to limited financial and administrative resources (Morris & Edwards, 2022 ), and de-prioritization of mental health due to competing health issues (Binswanger et al, 2009 ; Udo, 2019 ).…”