Abstract
Given the high prevalence of depression in PHC, the use of depression screening instruments has often been recommended. The
aim of this study was to construct and validate a visual depression screening instrument in a setting of low literacy and
a high burden of HIV/AIDS. We engaged the help of a fine artist to draw pictures depicting DSM-IV-TR criteria for a depressive
episode. We then validated this instrument named the Akena’s visual depression inventory (AVIDI), in 92 persons living with
HIV/AIDS in Uganda. The performance of the AVIDI in those with high and low education levels was determined. The area under
curve (AUC) score of the AVIDI was 0.82. There was no difference between the AUC scores in persons with lower versus higher
education levels. The AVIDI demonstrated a good psychometric property and can therefore be used to screen for depression in
settings with higher rates of illiteracy.
aim of this study was to construct and validate a visual depression screening instrument in a setting of low literacy and
a high burden of HIV/AIDS. We engaged the help of a fine artist to draw pictures depicting DSM-IV-TR criteria for a depressive
episode. We then validated this instrument named the Akena’s visual depression inventory (AVIDI), in 92 persons living with
HIV/AIDS in Uganda. The performance of the AVIDI in those with high and low education levels was determined. The area under
curve (AUC) score of the AVIDI was 0.82. There was no difference between the AUC scores in persons with lower versus higher
education levels. The AVIDI demonstrated a good psychometric property and can therefore be used to screen for depression in
settings with higher rates of illiteracy.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0267-1
- Authors
- Dickens Akena, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- John Joska, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Seggane Musisi, Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Dan J. Stein, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165