Volume : 13, Issue : 08, August – 2026
Title:
EFFECTIVENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAMS USING PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE (PHQ-9) AND GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER-7 (GAD-7) IN PRIMARY CARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors :
Mohammed Al Asser, Omar Rashed Alsaleh, Fahad Ali Mahnashi, Abdullateef Alsaeed
Abstract :
Background: Depressive and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in primary care settings but frequently remain unrecognized and underrated. The Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) are widely recommended psychiatric screens, yet debate continues regarding the diagnostic accuracy and clinical downstream utility of routine screening programs.
Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze the diagnostic accuracy of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 in primary care and evaluate the clinical impact of systematic screening programs on clinician recognition, treatment initiation and patient outcomes.
Results: A total of 42 studies (N = 68412 participants) met inclusion criteria. For PHQ-9 ((≥ 10), pooled sensitivity was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81–0.88) and specificity was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83–0.89). For GAD-7 (≥ 10), pooled sensitivity was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.76–0.85) and specificity was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83–0.90). Routine screening significantly increased clinician diagnostic recognition (RR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.38–1.95) and treatment initiation (RR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.22–1.79). However, screening with feedback alone produced minimal direct symptom reduction (SMD = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.23 to -0.01), whereas screening integrated into Collaborative Care Models yielded robust clinical recovery (SMD = -0.41, 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.29).
Conclusion: Both PHQ-9 and GAD-7 demonstrate high diagnostic accuracy in primary care. However, screening programs improve clinical patient outcomes primarily when embedded within structured, collaborative care systems with staff-supported management.
Keywords: PHQ-9, GAD-7, Primary Care, Mental Health Screening, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review, Collaborative Care.
Cite This Article:
Please cite this article in press Mohammed Al Asser et al., Effectiveness of Mental Health screening programs using patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and generalised anxiety disorders-7 (GAD-7) in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.,, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(08).
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