The Distress Questionnaire-5: Population Screener for Psychological Distress Was More Accurate Than the K6/K10

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 = 3,175) was recruited online, with data weighted to reflect population estimates of disorder prevalence, age, and gender.

Results: At specified cut points, the DQ5 was significantly more accurate in identifying individuals who met criteria for each of the disorders examined relative to the K6, with the exception of major depression where there was no significant difference in sensitivity or specificity.

Conclusion: The DQ5 is a promising tool for identifying psychological distress in the community, with potential for use in a range of clinical settings.