Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40195248›Full record

ArticleDiscover mental health2025

Charting the course of depression care: a meta-analysis of reliability generalization of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ- 9) as the measure.

Kenni Wojujutari Ajele, Erhabor Sunday Idemudia

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Discover mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Kenni Wojujutari AjeleFaculty of Humanities, North-West University, Mafikeng, South Africa. 54976073@mynwu.ac.za.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1796-4848
Erhabor Sunday IdemudiaFaculty of Humanities, North-West University, Mafikeng, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5522-7435

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDepression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, requiring reliable and adaptable screening tools. The Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ- 9) is widely used, yet its reliability across diverse populations and cultural adaptations remains unclear.

objectiveThis meta-analysis assessed the reliability generalization of the PHQ- 9 across different populations, settings, and cultural contexts to determine its applicability in global mental health assessments.

methodsA reliability generalization (RG) meta-analysis was conducted on 60 studies with 232,147 participants. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and test-retest reliability. Subgroup analyses examined the effects of administration modes, cultural adaptations, and study settings.

resultsThe pooled Cronbach's α was 0.86 (95% CI [0.85, 0.87]), indicating high internal consistency. Test-retest reliability, based on eight studies, was 0.82 (95% CI [0.74, 0.90]). Self-administered formats had the highest reliability (α = 0.87), while face-to-face interviews were lower (α = 0.80). Substantial heterogeneity (I

conclusionsThe PHQ- 9 is a reliable depression screening tool globally, but significant heterogeneity highlights the need for continued cultural adaptation and validation to enhance its applicability across diverse contexts.

Indexed as

Cultural adaptationDepressionMeta-analysisPHQ- 9Reliability generalization

Identifiers

PMID40195248
PMCPMC11977096

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.