The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: Poor performance as screener for major depression in patients with incurable cancer

Elisabeth Brenne; Jon H Loge; Hanne Lie; Marianne J Hjermstad; Peter M Fayers; Stein Kaasa; European Palliative Care Research Collaborative (EPCRC)

doi:10.1177/0269216315620082

The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System: Poor performance as screener for major depression in patients with incurable cancer

Palliat Med. 2016 Jun;30(6):587-98. doi: 10.1177/0269216315620082. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

Authors

Elisabeth Brenne¹, Jon H Loge², Hanne Lie³, Marianne J Hjermstad⁴, Peter M Fayers⁵, Stein Kaasa⁶; European Palliative Care Research Collaborative (EPCRC)

Affiliations

¹ European Palliative Care Research Centre, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Cancer Clinic, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway elisabeth.brenne@ntnu.no.
² European Palliative Care Research Centre, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, South Eastern Norway, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ European Palliative Care Research Centre, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, South Eastern Norway, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ European Palliative Care Research Centre, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Department of Public Health, Aberdeen University Medical School, Aberdeen City, UK.
⁶ European Palliative Care Research Centre, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway Cancer Clinic, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.

PMID: 26763008
DOI: 10.1177/0269216315620082

Abstract

Background: Depressive symptoms are prevalent in patients with advanced cancer, sometimes of a severity that fulfil the criteria for a major depressive episode.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how the item on depression in the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System with a 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale performed as a screener for major depressive episode. A possible improved performance by adding the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Anxiety item was also examined.

Design: An international cross-sectional study including patients with incurable cancer was conducted. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System score was compared against major depressive episode as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Screening performance was examined by sensitivity, specificity and the kappa coefficient.

Setting: Patients with incurable cancer (n = 969), median age 63 years and from eight nationalities provided report. Median Karnofsky Performance Status was 70. Median survival was 229 days (205-255 days).

Results: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 major depressive episode was present in 133 of 969 patients (13.7%). Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Depression screening ability for Patient Health Questionnaire-9 major depressive episode was limited. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.71 (0.66-0.76). Valid detection or exclusion of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 major depressive episode could not be concluded at any Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Depression cut-off; by the cut-off Numerical Rating Scale ⩾ 2, sensitivity was 0.69 and specificity was 0.60. By the cut-off Numerical Rating Scale ⩾ 4, sensitivity was 0.51 and specificity was 0.82. Combined mean ratings by Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Depression and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-Anxiety revealed similar limited screening ability.

Conclusion: The depression and anxiety items of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, a frequently used assessment tool in palliative care settings, seem to measure a construct other than major depressive episode as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 instrument.

Keywords: Palliative care; depression; depressive disorder; neoplasms; symptom assessment.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis*
Depressive Disorder, Major / etiology*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms / psychology*
Patients / psychology*
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*
Reproducibility of Results
Severity of Illness Index*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Symptom Assessment / methods*
Young Adult