Study patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)
| Measure | What it measures | Rationale for inclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Health Questionnaire, nine-item version (PHQ-9)20 | Severity of depression using nine questions covering diagnostic criteria for major depression. Total scores are categorised as minimal (1–4), mild (5–9), moderate (10–14), moderately severe (15–19) and severe (20–27). | Validated in UK primary care24 and the most commonly used symptom questionnaire in UK general practice when incentivised through the Quality and Outcomes Framework.13 |
| Distress thermometer single-item question screen originally developed for people with cancer21 but can measure distress coming from any source | Visual Analogue Scale on which patients indicate how distressed they have been during the past week on a scale of 0–10. Scores of 4 or more indicate a significant level of distress that should be investigated further. | A rapid indication of change in distress level. Does not require English skills to complete, unlike questionnaires. |
| PSYCHLOPS psychological outcomes profile,22 a one-page three-item self-report measure | Patient descriptions of their own particular individual problem or two problems, their ratings (0–5) of how their problem(s) affect their daily functioning, and their ratings (0–5) of overall well-being. | Approved by the Plain English Campaign and carries the ‘Crystal Mark’ for clarity. Shown to be highly sensitive to change during the course of psychotherapeutic interventions.22 |