Table 2 Item characteristics of the Rasch-based Depression Screening I (DESC-I) and the Rasch-based Depression Screening II (DESC-II)

Threshold

< 1.30

< 1.30

DESC-I

sad

-.85

.04

.93

1.01

lonely

-.62

.05

.78

.75

despaired

-.44

.04

.71

.65

hopeless

-.31

.05

.67

.65

empty

-.08

.05

.74

.84

loss of joy

.24

.05

.60

.57

feel superfluous

.31

.05

.67

.61

life is a burden

.53

.06

.75

.76

life is a failure

.68

.06

.66

.49

suicide

1.28

.09

.85

.67

DESC-II

disheartened

-.80

.04

.86

.88

little pleasure

-.66

.04

.83

.85

withdrawal

-.33

.04

.92

.93

discouraged

-.25

.04

.68

.66

uninspired

-.03

.04

1.02

1.13

pessimistic

.20

.05

.65

.68

feel needless

.30

.05

.97

1.09

be no good

.60

.06

.67

.62

loss of interest

.89

.06

.86

.87

suicide

1.05

.08

.83

.52