The validity and reliability of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for screening depression in primary health care patients in Botswana.

The PHQ-9 is a reliable and valid instrument to screen for depression in primary care facilities in Botswana. Primary care clinicians in Botswana may use the PHQ-9 to screen for depression with a cut -off score of nine. Further studies should focus on integrating routine depression screening in primary care.