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Computer diagnosis of depression and anxiety: the Stirling County Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Jane M. Murphy*
Affiliation:
Harvard Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Raymond K. Neff
Affiliation:
Harvard Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Arthur M. Sobol
Affiliation:
Harvard Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Joseph X. Rice Jr
Affiliation:
Harvard Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Donald C. Olivier
Affiliation:
Harvard Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr Jane M. Murphy, Harvard Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology, 715 Warren Building, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Synopsis

A computer programme (DPAX) was constructed for a longitudinal study of psychiatric epidemiology in Stirling County (Canada). It identifies disorders involving the syndromes of depression and anxiety based on responses given in structured questionnaire interviews. The programme follows a diagnostic algorithm that uses criteria for: (1) essential features; (2) number, frequency, and pattern of associated symptoms; (3) impairment; and (4) duration. The programme reproduces case evaluations provided by psychiatrists, as conveyed by a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 98%.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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