Name two commonly used standardized screening tools in mental health and the constructs they measure.

Name two commonly used standardized screening tools in mental health and the constructs they measure.

• A. GAD-7 for depressive symptoms; PHQ-9 for anxiety symptoms.
• B. PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms; GAD-7 for anxiety symptoms.
• C. MMPI-2 for personality; BDI for mood.
• D. CAGE for substance use; PTSD Checklist for PTSD.

Answer: (B)

Two commonly used standardized screening tools in mental health are PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms and GAD-7 for anxiety symptoms. The PHQ-9 is a brief self-report measure that directly assesses depressive symptoms and aligns with DSM criteria for major depressive disorder, making it a standard quick screen in many settings. The GAD-7 is another short self-report tool that specifically gauges anxiety symptoms, particularly those associated with generalized anxiety disorder, and provides a gauge of severity. Using them together is efficient because depression and anxiety frequently occur together, and having two brief, validated screens helps identify and quantify problems in these two central domains. The other options mix tools with constructs they aren’t primarily designed to measure in routine screening. For instance, an instrument that targets anxiety is paired with one that is designed for depressive symptoms in the wrong combination in that choice. Another option points to a comprehensive personality inventory or a mood-focused questionnaire that isn’t typically used as a quick, widely adopted screening duo in many practice settings. A different pair combines a substance-use screener with a PTSD symptom checklist, which shifts the focus away from mood and generalized anxiety screening.

Two commonly used standardized screening tools in mental health are PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms and GAD-7 for anxiety symptoms. The PHQ-9 is a brief self-report measure that directly assesses depressive symptoms and aligns with DSM criteria for major depressive disorder, making it a standard quick screen in many settings. The GAD-7 is another short self-report tool that specifically gauges anxiety symptoms, particularly those associated with generalized anxiety disorder, and provides a gauge of severity. Using them together is efficient because depression and anxiety frequently occur together, and having two brief, validated screens helps identify and quantify problems in these two central domains.

The other options mix tools with constructs they aren’t primarily designed to measure in routine screening. For instance, an instrument that targets anxiety is paired with one that is designed for depressive symptoms in the wrong combination in that choice. Another option points to a comprehensive personality inventory or a mood-focused questionnaire that isn’t typically used as a quick, widely adopted screening duo in many practice settings. A different pair combines a substance-use screener with a PTSD symptom checklist, which shifts the focus away from mood and generalized anxiety screening.