Self-assessment tools are frequently used as screening tools for depression. However, they are usually long and time-consuming.

To assess specificity, sensitivity and overall accuracy of a novel, very short, 5 questions tool.

The questionnaire consists of 3 phenomenological (based on main symptoms of depression) and 2 questions to assess functional impact of the symptoms. One hundred and ninety patients diagnosed clinically as having major depression (according to ICD-10 criteria and with the help of MINI tool) filled the questionnaire in twice, during episode and remission.

At least two (out of three possible) “yes” answers to phenomenological questions and both two “yes” functional answers yielded 100% specificity (no person in remission). At least one “yes” answer to phenomenological questions and both “yes” answers to functional question yielded 82.8% specificity, 83.7% sensitivity and 83,3% overall accuracy. These results varied insignificantly in subgroups with different depression severity.

A short, 5-question questionnaire may be used as a screening tool for depression. Specificity, sensitivity and overall accuracy are above 80% largely independently of depression severity.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.