Screening people with anxiety/depression for suitability for guided self-help

The aim of this study was to test a questionnaire for screening people with anxiety/ depression for their suitability for certain forms of computer-guided self-help. A total of 196 referrals completed the screening questionnaire. Three clinicians each independently judged the referrals' broad problem type and suitability. Referrals were randomized to 1 of 3 clinicians for a screening interview. The results show that inter-clinician agreement was good for questionnaire-based problem type and suitability, and excellent for screening interview-based problem type and suitability. Agreement between the questionnaire and interview was good on problem type but poor on suitability. Compared with the screening interview, the questionnaire detected suitable patients well but unsuitable patients less well. In conclusion, by quickly scanning the completed questionnaire, clinicians were able sensitively to detect patients' problem types that were suitable for certain forms of self-help. Some unsuitability items need refining.