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Screening for Anxiety and Depression in Community Mental Health: The Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories

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Abstract

Accurate diagnosis is key to providing quality services in community mental health. This research examined the ability of the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories to identify anxiety and depression in community settings. The diagnostic accuracy of these instruments was compared with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV in a sample of 288 distressed women seeking treatment for their children. Operating characteristic curves indicated the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories hold utility as screens for panic and major depressive disorder, respectively. Deploying these instruments as initial screens in a tiered diagnostic system may improve diagnostic accuracy in community settings.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by an NIMH grant to Dr. Greeno (MH-56848).

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Correspondence to Shaun M. Eack.

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Eack, S.M., Singer, J.B. & Greeno, C.G. Screening for Anxiety and Depression in Community Mental Health: The Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories. Community Ment Health J 44, 465–474 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-008-9150-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-008-9150-y

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