Which of the following is NOT a commonly used tool to screen for depression and distress in palliative care?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a commonly used tool to screen for depression and distress in palliative care?

In palliative care, screening for depression and distress is done with brief, validated tools so patients aren’t overburdened and clinicians can quickly identify those who need further assessment. The PHQ-9 is a concise, nine-item depression screen that aligns with DSM criteria and is easy for patients to complete, making it a practical choice in busy settings. The Distress Thermometer offers a rapid overall distress rating (often with a brief problem list) and is specifically designed for palliative care workflows to flag those in need of more help. The Geriatric Depression Scale is particularly suitable for older adults and comes in shorter forms, balancing simplicity with reliability. The Beck Depression Inventory, while widely used in other contexts, is less common in palliative care because it is longer and includes many somatic questions (like sleep, fatigue, and appetite changes) that often overlap with illness symptoms. In advanced disease, these physical symptoms can inflate depression scores or muddy interpretation, and the longer format can be burdensome for patients with limited energy or cognitive stamina. That combination of length and symptom overlap makes it less practical for routine screening in palliative care, which is why it’s not commonly used.

In palliative care, screening for depression and distress is done with brief, validated tools so patients aren’t overburdened and clinicians can quickly identify those who need further assessment. The PHQ-9 is a concise, nine-item depression screen that aligns with DSM criteria and is easy for patients to complete, making it a practical choice in busy settings. The Distress Thermometer offers a rapid overall distress rating (often with a brief problem list) and is specifically designed for palliative care workflows to flag those in need of more help. The Geriatric Depression Scale is particularly suitable for older adults and comes in shorter forms, balancing simplicity with reliability.

The Beck Depression Inventory, while widely used in other contexts, is less common in palliative care because it is longer and includes many somatic questions (like sleep, fatigue, and appetite changes) that often overlap with illness symptoms. In advanced disease, these physical symptoms can inflate depression scores or muddy interpretation, and the longer format can be burdensome for patients with limited energy or cognitive stamina. That combination of length and symptom overlap makes it less practical for routine screening in palliative care, which is why it’s not commonly used.

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