Journal of affective disorders
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Comparative Study
Validity of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool for depression amongst Nigerian university students.
The common self-rated depression scales are lengthy, old and do not reflect the current diagnostic classifications criteria of depressive disorders. This study aimed to validate the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool for depression amongst Nigerian university students. ⋯ The PHQ-9 has good psychometric properties amongst Nigerian university students. Because of its validity, reliability, brevity and ease of administration, the PHQ-9 will be a valuable tool for estimating depression amongst college students in Nigerian community. More studies are needed to test the usefulness of the translated local language versions of this instrument amongst the community in sub-Saharan Africa.