The concept of measurement-based care (MBC) for the treatment of depression includes the systematic assessment of depressive symptoms, antidepressant treatment side effects, and antidepressant treatment adherence at defined intervals using validated rating scales with the goal of reaching full remission.

The electronic version of each measurement instrument has built-in scoring and interpretation architecture. Results are displayed in an electronic report for the providers after the patient has completed the questionnaires.

The following questionnaires and assessments are included in VS⁶:  

• Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ-2) is a two-item self-report measure used for depression screening. These questions assess for core symptoms in the two main symptom domains of major depression: depressed mood; and loss of interest or pleasure in things usually enjoyed. The PHQ-2 questions are the first two questions of the PHQ-9. En Español
• Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) is a nine-item, self-report inventory that assesses for symptoms in all nine symptom domains of a major depressive episode. The PHQ-2 questions are the first two questions of the PHQ-9. En Español
• Patient Adherence Questionnaire (PAQ) is a two-item, self-report inventory that assesses patient adherence to the antidepressant treatment being prescribed. Patients who do not take their prescribed medications more than 70 percent of the time are considered non-adherent. For these patients, the instrument asks them to list the reasons for non-adherence by checking all that apply. En Español
• Frequency, Intensity, and Burden of Side Effects Rating (FIBSER) is a three-item, self-report inventory that assesses side effects to treatments. It measures frequency of side effects, intensity of those side effects, and functional impairment or burden of those side effects. En Español
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) assesses for symptoms in seven symptom domains of generalized anxiety. It has an additional question to assess functional impairment stemming from symptoms of anxiety. En Español
• Concise Associated Symptoms Tracking – Self-Report Scale (CAST-SR) is a 17-item inventory that assesses for five known treatment-emergent symptom domains: irritability, anxiety, mania, insomnia, and panic. Once a patient is identified as depressed, this scale is administered before treatment to establish a baseline. It is administered again at each subsequent treatment visit to assess for the emergence of these symptoms. En Español
• Pain Frequency, Intensity, and Burden Scale (P-FIBS) is a four item, self-administered measurement of pain frequency, intensity, and burden. This measure provides assessments of both pain levels and current use of pain management intervention. En Español
• Concise Health Risk Tracking Scale (CHRT) is a self-report measure with two subscales designed to assess both psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with increased risk of the development of suicidal thoughts and suicidal risk. En Español
• Alcohol and Drug Usage Screen is comprised of two screening items. They ask about drugs and alcohol use during the past year. Both items are designed to screen for current usage pattern that may impact depression treatment. En Español