What is the primary purpose of the PHQ-2 to PHQ-9 assessment?

The primary purpose of the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 assessments is to identify signs and symptoms of mood distress, which is an essential component in evaluating an individual’s mental health. The PHQ-2 serves as a brief screening tool that questions patients about their feelings of sadness or loss of interest over the past two weeks. Based on the responses, it helps to determine whether further evaluation is needed. If the PHQ-2 indicates that mood distress may be present, the PHQ-9, which is a more detailed questionnaire, can be used to assess the severity of depression.

Identifying mood distress is crucial for guiding appropriate interventions and treatment plans for patients. It does not provide a definitive diagnosis of depression; rather, it highlights the need for a deeper look into a patient's mental health status. This allows healthcare providers to understand how mood disturbances may be impacting the patient's overall health and functioning.

The other options, such as diagnosing depression, while related, are not the primary intent of the PHQ-2 to PHQ-9. The assessments are more focused on screening rather than diagnostic criteria. Adding length to the start of care visit doesn't align with the goals of these assessments, which aim to efficiently gather important mental health information. Finally