Table 2.

Performance of Suicide Risk Screening Methods as Indicators of Suicidal Behavior Among Primary Care Patients

Screening resultsaTPFPTNFNFP:TPSensSpecPPVNPV
30 days postbaseline
   PHQ-2 positive94682104452.00.6920.8180.0190.998
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive71702402624.30.5380.9340.0400.998
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive + SCS item 8 positive71142458616.30.5380.9560.0580.998
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive + SCS item 13 positive7922480613.10.5380.9640.0710.998
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive + SCS item 16 positive5682504813.60.3850.9740.0680.997
90 days postbaseline
   PHQ-2 positive1646120981028.80.6150.8200.0340.995
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive1316423951312.60.5000.9360.0730.995
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive + SCS item 8 positive131082451138.30.5000.9580.1070.995
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive + SCS item 13 positive12872471157.30.4440.9660.1210.994
   PHQ-2 positive + PHQ-9 positive + SCS item 16 positive10632494176.30.3700.9750.1370.993
  • FN = false negatives; FP = false positives; NPV = negative predictive value; PHQ-2 = 2-item patient health questionnaire; PHQ-9 = 9-item patient health questionnaire; PPV = positive predictive value; Sens = sensitivity; Spec = specificity; SCS = Suicide Cognitions Scale; TN = true negatives; TP = true positives.

  • aA positive screen on the PHQ-2 corresponds to a total score of 3 or higher, a positive screen on the PHQ-9 corresponds to a score of 1 or higher on item 9, and a positive screen on SCS items 8, 13, and 16 corresponds to a score of 2 or higher on each item.