Screening for depression in patients in treatment for alcohol use disorder using the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are prevalent disorders that often co-occur. The aim of the study was to investigate how the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10) perform as screening instruments for MDD in AUD patients in treatment. The study included 127 mainly AUD inpatients currently in treatment at rehabilitation clinics in Norway. Demographic and clinical variables were examined using questionnaires and clinical interviews. The factor structures of the BDI-II and HCSL-10 were examined, as well as internal consistency and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) was used as standard for diagnosing MDD. In total, 14% of the participants were diagnosed with MDD. BDI-II factor analysis retrieved three factors; cognition, somatic complaints and affect, and factor analysis for the HSCL-10 retrieved two factors; depression and anxiety. The optimal cut-off for the BDI-II was 24.5 with sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 78%. For HSCL-10 the optimal cut-off was 2.35, giving sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 69%. Both the BDI-II and HSCL-10 may be clinically useful screening instruments for MDD in AUD patients. There was a tendency that the affect factor of the BDI-II and the depression factor of the HSCL-10 were slightly more suitable for identifying MDD than the other factors. Optimal cut-offs for both the BDI-II and the HSCL-10 in this patient group were higher than cut-offs commonly used in the general population.