A 22-year-old female patient was diagnosed with major depressive disorder by her primary care provider, who referred her to the PMHNP for treatment and further evaluation. Which of the following tools helps gauge the intensity of depression in patients who have been diagnosed with a depressive syndrome?

Choice A reason: The PHQ-9 is useful for initial screening and monitoring of depressive symptoms but is not designed to provide a detailed assessment of depression severity once a diagnosis has been made. Choice B reason: The BDI is a validated tool for measuring the intensity and severity of depressive symptoms in patients already diagnosed with depression, making it ideal for monitoring response to treatment. Choice C reason: The Beck Hopelessness Scale measures hopelessness, which is a component of depression, but it does not assess overall depressive severity. Choice D reason: SLUMS assesses cognitive functioning and is not a measure of depression severity.