Date
Summer 2025
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Department
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Dwayne Alleyne
Abstract
Problem: Depression significantly impacted on the quality of life of incarcerated individuals within correctional facilities, where rates of the disorder far exceed those in the broader community, increasing self-harm and suicide risks.
Purpose: This quality improvement project aimed to improve early identification of depressive symptoms and facilitate timely mental health referrals by implementing the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool upon admission.
Method: Using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice (Iowa Model) as a guiding framework, this project involved training nursing staff to administer the PHQ-9 during initial health assessments. PHQ-9 is a nine-item questionnaire that assesses depression severity, with scores of 10 or higher triggering a referral for mental health services. The project spanned 12 weeks and integrated this screening tool into the routine admission process to improve early detection and management of depression.
Inclusion Criteria: Adult male inmates at least 18 years of age newly admitted to Dorm 9 during the timeframe.
Results: A total of 37 inmates were screened using the PHQ-9, and 40.5% scored at or above the clinical cutoff of 10, triggering mental health referrals. A chi-square test revealed a statistically significant association between PHQ-9 scores and referral status, χ²(1, N = 37) = 32.97, p < .001. These findings confirm that the PHQ-9 effectively identifies inmates requiring further mental health evaluation, supporting its utility in improving depression detection and timely referral in correctional settings.
Implications for Practice: Implementing the PHQ-9 at intake enabled early identification of inmates with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and timely mental health referrals. Findings highlight the value of routine depression screening in correctional settings and support the continued use and expansion of the PHQ-9 to improve mental health care among incarcerated populations.
Recommended Citation
Ozigbu, Thelma Chidimma, "Improving Depression Screening of Correctional Institution Inmates" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects. 87.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/dnp_projects/87
Rights
© 2025, helma Chidimma Ozigbu