The utility of the Beck Depression Inventory Fast Screen (BDI-FS) in a pain clinic population

This study compared the BDI-FS to the BDI-II in a sample of patients with chronic pain. The objectives were to: look at agreement between measures, determine BDI-FS cut-off scores, develop a conversion formula, consider the usefulness of the suicide ideation item and compare ability to detect clinical change. Phase I: Archival data from 1227 patients assessed for a pain management programme was analysed. The BDI-FS displayed good internal consistency (alpha=.839). ROC curve analysis showed good agreement between the BDI-II and FS and suggested a BDI-FS cut-off of four corresponded to the 19 cut-off recommended in the BDI-II manual. We recommend a cut-off of five to correspond to a BDI-II cut-off of 22 for pain clinic patients recommended by previous research. Regression suggested BDI-II score = (2.77 x BDI-FS score) + 9.14. Our data support the clinical usefulness of the suicide ideation item in this population. Phase II: Archival data from 584 patients collected at baseline. following a 16 day pain management programme and at 6 months follow-up, was analysed. Effect sizes indicated equivalent sensitivity to clinical change. The BDI-FS showed good psychometric properties, strong agreement with the BDI-II and equal ability to detect clinical change in a pain clinic population. The BDI-FS has the practical advantages of faster administration and reduced patient burden. (C) 2008 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.