Psychometric Tests in ED?

Hybelius, J at al: Measurement Properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and Somatic Symptom Scale-8: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

JAMA Netw Open 2024;7(11):e2446603.

Somatic symptoms—physical complaints that may not be fully explained by medical findings—are among the most common reasons patients seek care, including in high-pressure environments like Emergency Departments. Rapid, reliable tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) promise to help clinicians quantify symptom burden, yet their true diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility remain under scrutiny. This systematic review and meta-analysis of over 300 studies reveals both the strengths and the hidden complexities of these instruments, from robust internal consistency to limitations in identifying somatoform disorders. For busy ED clinicians balancing speed with precision, understanding these nuances could mean the difference between a missed diagnosis and timely, targeted care.

Hybelius J, Kosic A, Salomonsson S, et al. Measurement Properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 and Somatic Symptom Scale-8: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open 2024;7(11):e2446603. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.46603 [published Online First: 20241104]