The Distress Questionnaire-5: Population screener for psychological distress was more accurate than the K6/K10

Abstract

Objective The K6 and K10 are well-validated screening measures for psychological distress and are widely used. However, the accuracy of these scales in identifying common mental disorders may be suboptimal. This study aimed to develop a brief scale of psychological distress—the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5)—and validate its diagnostic accuracy in identifying common mental disorders, relative to the K6 and K10. Study Design and Setting The DQ5 was developed from a pool of 347 items reflecting a range of mental health symptoms. Validation of the DQ5 was conducted concurrently, on the basis of DSM-5 criteria for seven common mental disorders. A population-based sample of Australian adults (n =..