Table 3.

Essential Elements for Assessment in Midlife Women^a

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2)
Over the past 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems?		0=not at all
1. Little interest or pleasure in doing things		1=several days
2. Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless		2=more than half the days
		3=nearly every day
Total Score Items 1 & 2	Probability of MDD (%)	Probability of Any Depressive Disorder (%)
1	15.4	36.9
2	21.1	48.3
3	38.4	75.0
4	45.5	81.2
5	56.4	84.6
6	78.6	92.9
Symptoms of Depression (DSM-IV)b		Yes	No
Are you experiencing sleep problems (sleeping too much or too little)?†
Do you have a lack of interest (a deficit) in doing things you previously enjoyed?
Are you experiencing feelings of guilt, worthlessness,† hopelessness,† or regret?
Do you have an energy deficit† or are you suffering from fatigue?
Do you have difficulty concentrating?†
Has your appetite either increased or decreased† recently?
Do you have difficulty concentrating?
Do you have recurrent thoughts of death or suicide?
Reproductive History		Yes	No
Are you menstruating regularly?
Have you had a period in the last year?
Are you taking birth control pills?
Are you on hormone replacement therapy?
Have you ever been diagnosed with postpartum depression?
Have you ever been diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder?

^aBased on Thibault et al⁵⁴ and American Psychiatric Association.⁵⁵

^bTo meet a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, a patient must have 4 of the symptoms plus depressed mood or anhedonia for at least 2 weeks. To meet a diagnosis of dysthymic disorder, the patient must have 2 of 6 symptoms marked with † plus depressed mood for at least 2 years.