To what extent does the anxiety scale of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) detect specific types of anxiety disorder in primary care? A psychometric study.

Background: Anxiety scales may help primary care physicians to detect specific anxiety disorders among the many emotionally distressed patients presenting in primary care. The anxiety scale of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) consists of an admixture of symptoms of specific anxiety disorders. The research questions were: (1) Is the anxiety scale unidimensional or multidimensional? (2) To what extent does the anxiety scale detect specific DSM-IV anxiety disorders? (3) Which cut-off points are suitable to rule out or to rule in (which) anxiety disorders?

Methods: We analyzed 5 primary care datasets with standardized psychiatric diagnoses and 4DSQ scores.

A validation study of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) in insurance medicine.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the criterion validity and the diagnostic accuracy of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) regarding the identification of depressive and anxiety disorders in an insurance medicine setting.

Participants: Our sample consisted of 230 individuals who applied for a work disability benefit due to mental health problems.

Methods: Depressive and anxiety disorders were assessed using the 4DSQ and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

[Implantable ECG recorder revealed the diagnosis in a baby with apparent life-threatening events].

A 14-month-old boy went through episodes of cyanosis and brief loss of consciousness. Extensive investigations failed to lead to a diagnosis, until an implanted ECG recorder revealed ECG abnormalities suggestive of strangulation. Interviews with the father and mother showed that this was indeed the case.