Identifying long-term psychological distress from single measures: evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal survey of the Australian population.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Single time-point assessments of psychological distress are often used to indicate chronic mental health problems, but the validity of this approach is unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate how a single assessment of distress relates to longer-term assessment and quantify misclassification from using single measures to indicate chronic distress.

Methods

Data came from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, a nationally representative study of Australian adults. Psychological distress, measured with the Kessler10 and categorised into low (scores:10- < 12), mild (12- < 16), moderate (16- < 22) and high (22-50), has been assessed in the Survey biennially since wave 7. Among respondents who were aged ≥25 years and participated in

SUBMITTER: Welsh J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7059354 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature