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Brooke Levis.JPG.jpg

Name: Brooke Levis

Email: brooke.levis@mail.mcgill.ca

Position: DEPRESSD Steering Committee

Biography:

Born and raised in Montreal, Brooke completed her BSc in Neuroscience at McGill University (2012), followed by an MSc in Epidemiology (2014) and a PhD in Epidemiology (2019). 

Brooke began working under the supervision of Prof. Brett Thombs in 2009 as an undergraduate thesis student studying psychosocial aspects of scleroderma. Throughout her graduate training, she transitioned to quantitative epidemiology, with a focus on evaluating the diagnostic test accuracy of depression screening tools. In 2012, she and Dr. Thombs created the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Project, as a framework for conducting individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses on the diagnostic accuracy of the most commonly used depression screening tools. Her masters project was a pilot study for the DEPRESSD Project, and she examined selective cutoff reporting in studies of diagnostic test accuracy of depression screening tools. During her doctoral studies, she continued to develop and expand DEPRESSD Project, and she used data from the registry to conduct a series of IPD meta-analyses. She also taught four introductory epidemiology and biostatistics courses at McGill.

Upon completing her PhD, Brooke pursued a FRQS-funded Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Centre for Prognosis Research at Keele University in the UK, working with Professor Richard Riley, the world’s foremost expert in IPD meta-analysis. At Keele University, Brooke led or supported several projects related to IPD meta-analysis, prediction, and prognosis. She also led the development of a 2-day international course on conducting IPD meta-analysis projects and supported the delivery of other related courses.

 

Currently, Brooke is a Research Associate with Prof. Thombs’ team, where she contributes mainly to the DEPRESSD Project as a steering committee member and to the SPIN Project as the lead trial analyst, and she is a Lecturer for a Clinical Epidemiology Course at McGill University. She also continues to collaborate with Professor Riley’s team and contributes to teaching on their courses.

 

In addition to her main research projects, Brooke has also been invited to collaborate on 4 other multi-disciplinary and international IPDMAs, including for diagnosis and prognosis in stroke, cancer, and Zika virus.

ACADEMIC RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

Paper of the Month (September 2020). For Levis et al., JAMA, 2020;323:2290-2300. Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 2020.

- McGill MedStar Award. For Levis et al., BMJ, 2019. Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, 2019. (500 CAD)

- Top Downloaded Paper (top 10%). For Levis et al., Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2019. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 2019.

- Trainee Paper of the Year. Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 2019. ($500)

- American Psychological Association Emerging Leaders in Assessment Award, 2015. ($250)

- Best Oral Presentation – PhD Category. McGill Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health 11th Annual Student Research Day, 2015. ($100)

- McGill University Graduate Excellence Award In Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 2014. ($3,927)

- American Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) Graduate Student Recognition Award, 2012. ($500)

- Distinction (BSc Neuroscience). McGill University. February 2012.

- Dean’s Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research List. McGill University. February 2012.

- Principal’s Student-Athlete Academic Honour Roll. McGill University 2009-2010.

TRAVEL AWARDS

- McGill University Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, September 2018. ($500 to attend the 2018 Cochrane Colloquium in Edinburgh, Scotland)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Travel Award, April 2018. ($1,500 to attend the 2018 Methods for Evaluating Medical Tests and Biomarkers (MEMTAB) Symposium in Utrecht, the Netherlands)

- McGill University Graduate Mobility Award, March 2018. ($3,050 to attend the Statistical Methods for Risk Prediction and Prognostic Models training course in Keele, UK)

- McGill University Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, September 2017. ($1,000 to attend the Global Evidence Summit in Cape Town, South Africa)

- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Travel Award, April 2017. ($1,500 to attend the Society for Epidemiologic Research Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA)

- McGill University Graduate Mobility Award, December 2016. ($2,010 to attend the Statistical Methods for Evidence Synthesis of Individual Participant Data training course in Keele, UK)

- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Travel Award, March 2016. ($1,500 to attend the Epidemiology Congress of the Americas in Miami, Florida, USA)

- Lady Davis Institute Student Travel Award, August 2015. ($1,000 to attend the 2015 Preventing Overdiagnosis conference in Bethesda, Maryland, USA)

- McGill University Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, June 2015. ($975 to attend the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA)

- André Lussier Travelling Fellowship, May 2015. ($125 to attend the Laurentian Conference of Rheumatology, held in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec)

- McGill University Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Award, September 2013. ($750 to attend the Cochrane Colloquium in Quebec City, Quebec)

André Lussier Travelling Fellowship, May 2014. ($125 to attend the Laurentian Conference of Rheumatology, held in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec)

- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Travel Award, November 2011. ($1,000 to attend the American College of Rheumatology/Association for Rheumatology Health Professionals Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, USA)

- André Lussier Travelling Fellowship, May 2011. ($100 to attend the Laurentian Conference of Rheumatology, held in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec)

 

RESEARCH FUNDING

International Project Grants:
- Project Grant, MRC-NIHR Better Methods, Better Research. Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis of Prognosis Studies (REVAMP): Development of core methods, reporting guidelines and a methodology handbook. (2021-2024; PI: Riley RD; 587,409 GBP). Role: Co-Investigator.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grants:

- Project Grant, CIHR. Statistical methodology for prediction modelling to improve depression screening with individualized risk estimates in the context of individual participant data meta-analysis. (2021-2024; 279,224 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.
- Project Grant, CIHR. The DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Project: Continuous updating of databases for individual participant data meta-analyses of depressions screening test accuracy. (2021-2021; 100,000 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.


- Operating Grant, CIHR. Identification of factors to improve effectiveness and implementation of a multi-faceted COVID-19 mental health intervention: Follow-up to the SPIN-CHAT trial. (2020-2021; 89,901 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.
- Operating Grant, CIHR. Partially nested randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network COVID-19 Home-isolation Activities Together (SPIN-CHAT) program to reduce anxiety among vulnerable persons with a pre-existing medical condition. (2020-2021; 156,353 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.
- Project Grant, CIHR. Depression trajectories in pregnant and postpartum women: an individual participant data meta-analysis. (2020-2021; 74,545 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.
- Project Grant, CIHR. Diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for detecting major depression: an updated systematic review and independent participant data meta-analysis. (2019-2021; 210,375 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.
- Project Scheme Grant, CIHR. Improving depression screening in geriatric patients by reducing bias and generating individualized accuracy estimates: an individual patient data meta-analysis of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). (2018-2020; 120,000 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.
- Personalized Health Catalyst Grant, CIHR. Using individual patient data meta-analyses to develop individual prediction models for depression screening. (2018-2020; 200,000 CAD). Role: Co-Investigator.

Postdoctoral Funding:
- Postdoctoral Training Award, Fonds de Recherche Québec – Santé (FRQS). (2019-2021, $55,000 per year)

 

Doctoral Funding:

- Doctoral Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship. (2016-2019, $35,000 per year)

- Doctoral Training Award, Fonds de la recherche en santé Québec (FRSQ). (2014-2017, $20,000 per Year; 3rd year declined)

 

Master’s Funding:

- Master’s Award, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship. (2013-2014, $17,500 per year)

- Master’s Training Award, Fonds de la recherche en santé Québec (FRSQ). (2012-2014, $15,000 per year; 2nd year declined)

 

Funded Undergraduate Research Internships:

- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Summer Studentship in Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, 2011. ($4,950)

- Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Summer Studentship, 2011 (declined; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research grant, PI: M Baron). ($3,939)

- Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, Summer Studentship in Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, 2010. ($4,950)

- Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Summer Studentship, 2010 (declined; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research grant, PI: M Baron). ($3,939)

 

COURSES TAUGHT:

Course Coordinator and Instructor for Graduate-level course Clinical Epidemiology (2022). Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 39 class hours. Sole lecturer (no co-lecturers or teaching assistants).

Lead Course Developer, Coordinator, and Instructor for 2-day international course, Individual Participant Data Meta-Analyses: A Practical Introduction for Healthcare Research (2021). Keele University, Keele, UK. October 2021. Class size: 30. [Delivered online due to COVID-19].
 

Course Faculty for 3-day international course PROGRESS (2021). Keele University, Keele, UK. July 2021. Class size: 40. [delivered online due to COVID-19].

Course Faculty for 3-day international course, Statistical Methods for Evidence Synthesis of Individual Participant Data. Keele University, Keele, UK (2021). May and December 2021. Class size: 47 (May 2021); 36 (December 2021). [Delivered online due to COVID-19].
 

Course Faculty for 3-day international course, Statistical Methods for Risk Prediction and Prognostic Models (2019-2021). Keele University, UK. Class size: 35 (2019), 30 (2020), 45 (2021; delivered online due to COVID-19).
 

Course Coordinator and Instructor for Graduate-level course Biostatistics for Health Sciences (2018). Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 39 class hours. Sole lecturer (no co-lecturers or teaching assistants).

Course Coordinator and Instructor for Graduate-level course Clinical Epidemiology (2017). Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 39 class hours. 1 of 4 co-lecturers (no teaching assistants). Class size: 22.

Course Coordinator and Instructor for Graduate-level course Fundamentals of Epidemiology (2017). Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 52 class hours. Sole lecturer (no co-lecturers or teaching assistants).

Course Coordinator and Instructor for Graduate-level course Fundamentals of Epidemiology (2016). Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 52 class hours. 1 of 2 co-lecturers (no teaching assistants).

Guest Lecturer for Graduate-level course Knowledge Synthesis (2016, 2018-2020). Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 1.5 hour lecture on Individual Patient Data Meta-Analyses.

Guest Lecturer for Graduate-level course Applied Statistics for Nursing (2015). School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 1.5 hour lecture on Logistic Regression. Class size: 39.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

 

Harel D, Levis B, Sun Y, Ioannidis JPA, Cuijpers P, Patten SB, Ziegelstein RC, Markham S, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Group. External validation of a shortened screening tool using individual participant data meta-analysis: a case study of the Patient Health Questionnaire-Dep-4. Methods. In press.

 

Van der Pol C, Salameh JP, Levis B, Chernyak V, Sirlin CB, LI-RADS IPD Group, Bashir MR, McInnes MDF. LI-RADS major features association with hepatocellular carcinoma: diagnostic accuracy studies individual patient data meta-analysis. Radiology. In press.

 

Carboni-Jiménez A, Rice DB, Levis B, Cañedo-Ayala M, Imran M, Chiovitti M, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. Intensity of care and perceived burden among informal caregivers to persons with chronic medical conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disabil Rehabil. In press.

 

Nordlund J, Henry RS, Kwakkenbos L, Carrier ME, Levis B, et al. The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Self-Management Program: Protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial with progression to full-scale trial. Trials. 2021;22:856.

 

Lee YC, Fox RS, Kwakkenbos L, Levis B, Carrier ME, Welling J, Sauvé M, Mouthon L, Benedetti A, Bartlett SJ, Varga J, Thombs BD, SPIN Investigators. Pain intensity and interference levels and associated factors in systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study of 2157 participants from the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort. Lancet Rheumatology. 2021;3(12):e844-e854.

 

Fischer F, Levis B, Falk C, Sun Y, Ioannidis JPA, Cuijpers P, Shrier I, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) PHQ Collaboration. Comparison of different scoring methods based on latent variable models of the PHQ-9: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Psychol Med. Online ahead of print.

 

Negeri Z, Levis B, Sun Y, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. Accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: an updated systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ. 2021;375:n2183.

 

Neupane D, Levis B, Bhandari PM, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Selective cutoff reporting in studies of the accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: Comparison of results based on published cutoffs versus all cutoffs using individual participant data meta-analysis. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2021;30(3):e1873.

 

Thombs BD, Kwakkenbos L, Levis B, Bourgeault A, Henry RS, Levis AW, Harb S, Tao L, Carrier ME, Bustamante L Duchek D, Dyas L, El-Baalbaki G, Ellis K, Rice DB, Wurz A, Nordlund J, Gagarine M, Turner KA, Østbø N, Culos-Reed N, Hebblethwaite S, Patten S, Bartlett SJ, Varga J, Mouthon L, Markham S, Martin MS, Benedetti A, SPIN-CHAT Patient Advisory Team and Program Facilitators, Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Investigators. Effects of a multi-faceted education and support programme on anxiety symptoms among people with systemic sclerosis and anxiety during COVID-19 (SPIN-CHAT): a two-arm parallel, partially nested, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Rheumatology. 2021;3:e427-37.

 

Bhandari PM, Levis B, Neupane D, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) EPDS Group. Data-driven methods distort optimal cutoffs and accuracy estimates of depression screening tools: a simulation study using individual participant data. J Clin Epi. 2021;137:137-147.

 

Harel D, Levis B, Ishihara M, Levis AW, Thombs, BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) EPDS Collaboration. Shortening the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) using optimal test assembly methods. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2021;143(4):348-362.

 

Wu Y, Levis B, Sun Y, He C, Krishnan K, Neupane D, Bhandari PM, Negeri Z, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD HADS Group. Accuracy of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Depression subscale (HADS-D) to screen for major depression: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ. 2021;373:n972.

  

Albrasi A, Hattle M, Koshiaris C, Dunnigan A, Paxton B, Fox SE, Smith M, Archer L, Levis B, Payne RA, Riley RD, Roberts N, Snell KIE, Lay-Flurrie S, Usher-Smith J, Stevens R, Hobbs R, McManus RJ, Sheppard JP, STRATIFY Investigators. The association between antihypertensive treatment and adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 58 randomised controlled trials including 280,638 patients. BMJ. 2021;372:n189.


Lyubenova A, Neupane D, Levis B, Wu Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Depression prevalence based on the EPDS compared to Structured Clinical Interview for DSM classification: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2021;30:e1860.

Wu Y, Kwakkenbos L, Henry RS, Tao L, Harb S, Bourgeault A, Carrier ME, Levis B, Sun Y, Bhandari PM, Carboni-Jimenez A, Gagarine M, He C, Krishnan A, Negeri ZF, Neupane D, Mouthon L, Bartlett SJ, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, SPIN COVID-19 Investigators, SPIN COVID-19 Patient Advisory Team. Validation of the COVID-19 Fears Questionnaire for Chronic Medical Conditions: a Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network COVID-19 Cohort study. J Psychosom Res. 2020;139:110271.

Levis B, Negeri Z, Sun Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, for the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) EPDS Collaboration. Accuracy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for screening to detect major depression: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. BMJ. 2020;371:m4022.

Brehaut E, Neupane D, Levis B, Wu Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) HADS Collaboration. Depression prevalence based on the HADS depression subscale compared to Structured Clinical Interview for DSM classification: individual participant data meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res. 2020;139:110256.

Benedetti A, Levis B, Rücker G, Jones HE, Ioannidis JPA, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD Collaboration. An empirical comparison of three methods for multiple cut-off diagnostic test meta-analysis of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression screening tool using published data versus individual level data. Research Synthesis Methods. 2020;11(6):833-848.

Thombs BD, Levis B, Lyubenova A, Neupane D, Wu Y, Sun Y, et al. Overestimation of postpartum depression prevalence based on a 5-item version of the EPDS: systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Can J Psychiatry. 2020;65(12):835-844.

Wu Y, Levis B, Ioannidis J, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, on behalf of the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Probability of major depression based on the SCID, CIDI, and MINI diagnostic interviews: a synthesis of three individual participant data meta-analyses. Psychother Psychosom. 2021;90(1):28-40.

ZIKV IPD Consortium. The Zika virus individual participant data consortium: a global initiative to estimate the effects of exposure to Zika virus during pregnancy on adverse fetal, infant and child health outcomes. Trop Med Infect Dis. 2020;5:152.

Salameh J-P, McInnes MDF, Moher D, Thombs BD, McGrath TA, Frank R, Dehmoobad Sharifabadi A, Kraaijpoel N, Levis B, Bossuyt PM. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA): explanation and elaboration. BMJ. 2020;370:m2632.

Levis B, Sun Y, He C, Wu Y, Krishnan A, Bhandari PM, Neupane D, Imran M, Brehaut E, Negeri Z, Fischer FH, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, for the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) PHQ Collaboration. Accuracy of the PHQ-2 alone and in combination with the PHQ-9 for screening to detect major depression: an individual participant data meta-analysis. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2290-3000.

Mughal A, Devadas J, Ardman E, Levis B, Go V, and Gaynes BN. A systematic review of validated screening tools for anxiety disorders and PTSD in low to middle income countries. BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20:338.

Thombs BD, Kwakkenbos L, Carrier, ME, Bourgeault A, Tao L, Gagarine M, Rice D, Bustamante L, Ellis K, Duchek D, Wu Y, Bhandari PM, Neupane D, Carboni-Jiménez A, Henry RS, Krishan A, Sun Y, Levis B, He C, Turner KA, Benedetti A, Culos-Reed N, El-Baalbaki G, Hebblethwaite S, Bartlett SJ, Dyas L, Patten S, Varga J, Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) COVID-19 Patient Advisory Team, SPIN Investigators. Protocol for a partially nested randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network COVID-19 Home-isolation Activities Together (SPIN-CHAT) Program to reduce anxiety among at-risk scleroderma patients. J Psychosom Res. 2020;135:110132.

Levis B, Benedetti A, Ioannidis JPA, Sun Y, Negeri Z, He C, et al. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores do not accurately estimate depression prevalence: individual participant data meta-analysis. J Clin Epidemiol. 2020;122:115-128.

McGrath S, Zhao XF, Steele R, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Estimating the sample mean and standard deviation from commonly reported quantiles in meta-analysis. Stat Methods Med Res. ePub ahead of print.

Turner KA, Carboni-Jiménez A, Benea C, Elder K, Levis B, Boruff J, Roseman M, Bero LA, Lexchin J, Turner EH, Benedetti A, and Thombs BD. Reporting of drug trial funding sources and author financial conflicts of interest in Cochrane and non-Cochrane meta-analyses: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2020:10:e035633.

Wu Y, Levis B, Sun Y, Krishnan A, He C, Riehm KE, et al. Probability of major depression diagnostic classification based on the SCID, CIDI and MINI diagnostic interviews controlling for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Depression subscale scores: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 73 primary studies. J Psychosom Res. 2020;129:109892.

He C, Levis B, Riehm KE, Saadat N, Levis AW, Azar M, et al. The accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 algorithm for screening to detect major depression: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(1):25-37.

Cañedo-Ayala M, Rice DB, Levis B, Carrier, ME, Cumin J, Malcarne V, Hagedoorn M, Thombs BD, & The Caregiver Advisory Committee. Caregiver, care recipient, and caregiving factors associated with symptoms of depression among informal caregivers of people living with systemic sclerosis. Disabil Rehabil. 2020;42(3):394-399.

Levis B, McMillan D, Sun Y, He C, Rice DB, Krishnan A, et al. Comparison of major depression diagnostic classification probability using the SCID, CIDI and MINI diagnostic interviews among women in pregnancy or postpartum: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2019;28(4):e1803.

Thombs BD, Levis AW, Azar M, Saadat N, Riehm KE, Sanchez T, Chiovitti M, Rice DB, Levis B, Fedoruk C, Lyubenova A, Malo Vázquez de Lara AL, Kloda LA, Benedetti A, Shrier I, Platt RW, Kimmelman J. Group sample sizes in non-regulated health care intervention trials described as randomized controlled trials were overly similar. J Clin Epidemiol. 2019;120:8-16.

Wu Y, Levis B, Riehm KE, Saadat N, Levis AW, Azar M, et al. Equivalency of the diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8 and PHQ-9: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2019 Jul 12:1-13. doi: 10.1017/S0033291719001314.

Azar M, Riehm KE, Saadat N, Sanchez T, Chiovitti M, Qi L, Rice DB, Levis B, Fedoruk C, Levis AW, Kloda LA, Kimmelman J, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. Evaluation of journal registration policies and prospective registration of randomized clinical trials of non-regulated healthcare interventions. JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(5):624-632.

Levis B, Benedetti A, Thombs BD and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019;365:I1476.

Levis B, Yan XW, He C, Sun Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD. A comparison of depression prevalence estimates in meta-analyses based on screening tools and rating scales versus diagnostic interviews: a meta-research review. BMC Med. 2019;17:65.

Salameh J-P, McInnes M, Moher D, Thombs BD, McGrath T, Frank R, Sharifabadi AD, Krajipool N, Levis B, Bossuyt P. Completeness of reporting of systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy based on the PRISMA-DTA reporting guideline. Clin Chem. 2019;65(2):291-301.

Ishihara M, Harel D, Levis B, Levis AW, Riehm KE, Saadat N, et al. Shortening self-report mental health symptom measures through optimal test assembly methods: Development and validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-Depression-4. Depress Anxiety. 2019;36(1):82-92.

Benedetti A, Wu Y, Levis B, Wilchesky M, Boruff J, Ioannidis JPA, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale-30, Geriatric Depression Scale-15, Geriatric Depression Scale-5, and Geriatric Depression Scale-4 for detecting major depression: Protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2018;8(12):e026598.

Levis B, Benedetti A, Riehm KE, Saadat N, Levis AW, Azar M, et al. Probability of major depression diagnostic classification using semi-structured versus fully structured diagnostic interviews. Br J Psychiatry. 2018;212:377-385.

Simoneau G, Levis B, Cuijpers P, Ioannidis JPA, Patten SB, Shrier I, Bombardier CH, de Lima Osório F, Fann JR, Gjerdingen D, Lamers F, Lotrakul M, Löwe B, Shaaban J, Stafford L, van Weert HCPM, Whooley MA, Wittkampf KA, Yeung AS, Thombs BD, Benedetti A. A comparison of bivariate, multivariate random-effects, and Poisson correlated gamma-frailty models to meta-analyze individual patient data of ordinal scale diagnostic tests. Biometrical Journal. 2017;59:1317-1338.

Levis B, Benedetti A, Levis AW, Ioannidis JPA, Shrier I, Cuijpers P, Gilbody S, Kloda LA, McMillan D, Patten SB, Steele RJ, Ziegelstein RC, Bombardier CH, de Lima Osório F, Fann JR, Gjerdingen D, Lamers F, Lotrakul M, Loureiro SR, Löwe B, Shaaban J, Stafford L, van Weert HCPM, Whooley MA, Williams LS, Wittkampf KA, Yeung AS, Thombs BD. Selective cutoff reporting in studies of diagnostic test accuracy: A comparison of traditional and individual patient data meta-analyses of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screening tool. Am J Epidemiol. 2017;185(10):954-964.

Levis B, Kwakkenbos L, Hudson M, Baron M, Thombs BD, Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. The association of sociodemographic and objectively-assessed disease variables with fatigue in systemic sclerosis: an analysis of 785 Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Registry patients. Clin Rheumatol. 2017;36:373-379.

Coroiu A, Kwakkenbos L, Levis B, Hudson M, Baron M, Cella D, Thombs BD, Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. The comparability of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scores between cancer and systemic sclerosis. J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2017;2(1):57-63.

Rice DB, Kloda LA, Levis B, Qi B, Kingsland E, Thombs BD. Are MEDLINE searches sufficient for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the diagnostic accuracy of depression screening tools? A review of meta-analyses. J Psychosom Res. 2016;87:7-13.

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Levis B, Rice DB, Kwakkenbos L, Steele R, Hagedoorn M, Hudson M, Baron M, Thombs BD, Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. Using marital status and continuous marital satisfaction ratings to predict depressive symptoms in married and unmarried women with systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care & Res. 2016;68(8):1143-1149.

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Thombs BD, Benedetti A, Kloda LA, Levis B, Azar M, Riehm KE, Saadat N, Cuijpers P, Gilbody S, Ioannidis JP, McMillan D, Patten SB, Shrier I, Steele RJ, Ziegelstein RC, Loiselle CG, Henry M, Ismail Z, Mitchell N, Tonelli M. Diagnostic accuracy of the Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) for detecting major depression: protocol for a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analyses. BMJ Open. 2016; 6:e011913.

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Thombs BD, Benedetti A, Kloda LA, Levis B, Riehm KE, Azar M, Cuijpers P, Gilbody S, Ioannidis JPA, McMillan D, Patten SB, Shrier I, Steele RJ, Ziegelstein RC, Tonelli M, Mitchell N, Comeau L, Schinazi J, Vigod S. Diagnostic accuracy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for detecting major depression in pregnant and postnatal women: protocol for a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analyses. BMJ Open. 2015;5:e009742.

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Kwakkenbos L, Delisle VC, Fox RS, Gholizadeh S, Jewett LR, Levis B, Milette K, Mills SD, Malcarne VL, Thombs BD. Psychosocial aspects of scleroderma. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2015;41(3):519-528.

Thombs BD, Benedetti A, Kloda LA, Levis B, Nicolau I, Cuijpers P, Gilbody S, Ioannidis JP, McMillan D, Patten SB, Shrier I, Steele RJ, Ziegelstein RC. The diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for detecting major depression: protocol for a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analyses. Syst Rev. 2014;3:124.

Thombs BD, Arthurs E, Coronado-Montoya S, Roseman M, Delisle VC, Leavens A, Levis B, Azoulay L, Smith C, Ciofani L, Coyne JC, Feeley N, Gilbody S, Schinazi J, Stewart DE, Zelkowitz P. Depression screening and patient outcomes in pregnancy and postpartum: A systematic review. J Psychosom Res. 2014;76(6):443-446.

Razykov I, Levis B, Hudson M, Baron M, Thombs BD, Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. Prevalence and clinical correlates of pruritus in patients with systemic sclerosis: An updated analysis of 959 Patients. Rheumatology. 2013;52(11):2056-2061.

Kwakkenbos L, Jewett LR, Baron M, Bartlett SJ, Furst D, Gottesman K, Khanna D, Malcarne VL, Mayes MD, Mouthon L, Poiraudeau S, Sauve M, Nielson WR, Poole JL, Assassi S, Boutron I, Ells C, van den Ende CHM, Hudson M, Impens A, Körner A, Leite C, Costa Maia A, Mendelson C, Pope J, Steele RJ, Suarez-Almazor ME, Ahmed S, Coronado-Montoya S, Delisle VC, Gholizadeh S, Jang Y, Levis B, Milette K, Mills SD, Razykov I, Sobel RM, Thombs BD. The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort: Protocol for a cohort multiple randomized controlled trial (cmRCT) design to support trials of psychosocial and rehabilitation interventions in a rare disease context. BMJ Open. 2013;3:e003563.

​Meijer A, Roseman M, Delisle V, Milette K, Levis B, Syamchandra A, Stefanek M, Stewart D, de Jonge P, Coyne J, Thombs B. Effects of screening for psychological distress on patient outcomes in cancer: a systematic review. J Psychosom Res. 2013;75(1):1-17.

 

Thombs B, Roseman M, Coyne J, de Jonge P, Delisle V, Arthurs E, Levis B, Ziegelstein R. Does evidence support the American Heart Association’s recommendation to screen patients for depression in cardiovascular care? An updated systematic review. PLOS ONE. 2013;8(1):e52654.

Levis B, Hudson M, Knafo R, Baron M, Nielson WR, Hill M, Thombs BD, Canadian Scleroderma Research Group. Sexual activity and impairment among women with systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care Res. 2012;64(3):340-350.

 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Lee YC, Fox RC, Kwakkenbos L, Levis B, Carrier ME, Welling J, Sauvé M, Mouthon L, Benedetti A, Bartlett SJ, Varga J, Thombs BD, on behalf of the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Investigators. Pain intensity and interference levels and associated factors in systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study of 2157 participants from the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort. 2022 Canadian Arthritis Research Conference. February 2022. [presented online due to COVID-19].

 

Van der Pol CB, Salameh JP, Levis B, Chernyak V, Sirlin CB, Bashir MR, McInnes MDF. Liver Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) major features: individual patient data meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy studies for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. 107th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Chicago, Illinois, USA. November 28 – December 2, 2021.

 

Levis B, Holden MA, Hattle M, Riley RD, van der Windt D, Campbell L, Fulton S, Ensor E. Keele Toolbox for Individual Participant Data Meta-Analyses. Royal Statistical Society (RSS) 2021 International Conference. Manchester, UK. September 2021.

 

Snell KIE, Levis B, Debray T, Hooft L, Dhiman P, Reitsma J, Moons KGM, Collins GS, Riley RD. An extension to reporting guidelines for systematic reviews of prediction model studies (TRIPOD-SRMA). 42nd Annual Conference of the International Society for Clinical Biostatistics. Lyon, France. July 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Levis B, Snell KIE, Collins GS, Debray T, Moons KG, Reitsma JB, Riley RD. Assessing risk of bias in individual participant data meta-analyses for prediction model research. 42nd Annual Conference of the International Society for Clinical Biostatistics. Lyon, France. July 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Negeri ZF, Levis B, Wu Y, Dendukuri N, Thombs BD, Benedetti A. Latent class models for individual participant data meta-analyses of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression. McGill Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health 17th Annual Student Research Day. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Levis B, Bhandari PM, Neupane D, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) PHQ Collaboration. Bias in diagnostic accuracy estimates due to data-driven cutoff selection: a simulation study. Methods for Evaluation of medical prediction Models, Tests and Biomarkers (MEMTAB) Conference. Leuven, Belgium. December 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Wu Y, Levis B, Ioannidis JPA, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Major depression classification based on different diagnostic interviews: a synthesis of individual participant data meta-analyses. Methods for Evaluation of medical prediction Models, Tests and Biomarkers (MEMTAB) Conference. Leuven, Belgium. December 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].
 

Levis B, Snell K, Takwoingi Y, Collins GS, Moons KG, Reitsma JB, Hooft L, Stewart LA, Tierney JF, Riley RD. Evaluating risk of bias and applicability in individual participant data meta-analyses. 2020 Cochrane Colloquium. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. October 2020. [cancelled due to COVID-19].

Levis B, Dehtiarova Y, Sun Y, Wu Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. depressionscreening100.com/phq: a practice-based perspective to using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to screen for depression. 2020 Cochrane Colloquium. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. October 2020. [cancelled due to COVID-19].

Levis B, Negeri Z, Sun Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD EPDS Collaboration. Screening for depression in pregnant and postpartum women: an individual participant data meta-analysis of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. 2020 Cochrane Colloquium. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. October 2020. [cancelled due to COVID-19].

Levis B, Sun Y, He C, Wu Y, Krishnan A, Bhandari PM, Neupane D, Imran M, Brehaut E, Negeri ZF, Fischer FH, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. Screening for depression with the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) alone and in combination with the PHQ-9: individual participant data meta-analysis. 2020 Cochrane Colloquium. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. October 2020. [cancelled due to COVID-19].

Negeri ZF, Levis B, Wu Y, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. Latent class models for individual participant data meta-analyses of diagnostic test accuracy studies with imperfect reference standards. 2020 Cochrane Colloquium. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. October 2020. [cancelled due to COVID-19].

Snell KIE, Levis B, Debray T, Hooft L, Dhiman P, Reitsma J, Moons K, Collins G, Riley RD. TRIPOD-SR: An extension to reporting guidelines for systematic reviews of prediction model studies. 41st Annual Conference of the International Society for Clinical Biostatistics. Krakow, Poland. August 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Negeri ZF, Levis B, Wu Y, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. Latent class models for individual participant data meta-analyses of diagnostic test accuracy studies with imperfect reference standards. 2020 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, August 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Bhandari PM, Levis B, Neupane D, Patten SB, Shrier I, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) EPDS Collaboration. Bias in diagnostic accuracy estimates due to data-driven cutoff selection: simulation study using individual participant data from 49 studies on the diagnostic accuracy of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. In Levis B (Chair). Use of individual participant data meta-analysis to address challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy (Symposium). 81st Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Neupane D, Levis B, Bhandari PM, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) EPDS and PHQ-9 Collaboration. Selective cutoff reporting in studies of the accuracy of the PHQ-9 and EPDS depression screening tools: comparison of results based on published cutoffs versus all cutoffs using individual participant data meta-analysis. In Levis B (Chair). Use of individual participant data meta-analysis to address challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy (Symposium). 81st Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Wu Y, Levis B, Ioannidis JPA, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Major depression classification based on the SCID, CIDI and MINI diagnostic interviews: a meta-analysis of individual participant data meta-analyses. In Levis B (Chair). Use of individual participant data meta-analysis to address challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy (Symposium). 81st Canadian Psychological Association Annual Convention. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Levis B, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) PHQ Collaboration. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to screen for major depression: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Primary Care Mental Health Conference 2020. University of York, Heslington, UK. May 2020. [cancelled due to COVID-19].

Neupane D, Levis B, Bhandari PM, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Selective cutoff reporting in diagnostic accuracy studies of the PHQ-9 and EPDS depression screening tools. In Wu Y (Chair). Addressing challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy via individual participant data meta-analysis (Symposium). 9th Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology (ICP). Ottawa, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Bhandari PM, Levis B, Neupane D, Patten SB, Shrier I, Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) EPDS Collaboration. Bias in accuracy estimates from data-driven optimal cutoff selection: simulation study using EPDS IPDMA dataset. In Wu Y (Chair). Addressing challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy via individual participant data meta-analysis (Symposium). 9th Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology (ICP). Ottawa, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Brehaut E, Neupane D, Bhandari PM, Levis B, Wu Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) HADS Collaboration. Prevalence using the HADS depression subscale compared to SCID classification: individual participant data meta-analysis. In Wu Y (Chair). Addressing challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy via individual participant data meta-analysis (Symposium). 9th Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology (ICP). Ottawa, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Wu Y, Levis B, Ioannidis JPA, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Collaboration. Major depression classification based on different diagnostic interviews: a synthesis of individual participant data meta-analyses. In Wu Y (Chair). Addressing challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy via individual participant data meta-analysis (Symposium). 9th Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology (ICP). Ottawa, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

Negeri ZN, Levis B, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) PHQ Collaboration. Accuracy of the PHQ-9 for screening to detect major depression: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. In Wu Y (Chair). Addressing challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy via individual participant data meta-analysis (Symposium). 9th Interdisciplinary Conference in Psychology (ICP). Ottawa, Canada. May 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19].

 

INVITED SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

 

Levis B. Use of individual participant data meta-analysis to address and overcome challenges in mental health assessment research. Therapeutics Initiative Methods Speaker Series, University of British Columbia. January 26, 2022. [presented online due to COVID-19]

 

Levis B. The DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Project: Using individual participant data meta-analysis to address challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy. Mental Health and Addiction Research Group, Department of Health Sciences and Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, UK. September 27, 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19]

 

Neupane D, Levis B. Addressing overestimation of prevalence based on self-report questionnaires: are there cost-effective alternatives? DEPRESSD Webinar Series. June 16, 2021.

 

Levis B and Thombs BD. Use of individual participant data meta-analysis to address problematic research on mental health assessment. Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS) International Forum. April 8, 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19]
 

Levis B. Screening for depression in primary care and other clinical settings. Nature Conference on Chronic Disease & Mental Health. March 11, 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19]
 

Levis B, Maxwell L, Carabali M. Metadata capturing study-level heterogeneity. Zika Virus (ZIKV) Individual Participant Data (IPD) Consortium Annual Meeting. January 26, 2021. [presented online due to COVID-19]
 

Levis B, Dehtiarova Y, Sun Y, Wu Y, Benedetti A, Thombs BD, and the DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. depressionscreening100.com/phq: a practice-based perspective to using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to screen for depression. North American Systematic Review Methods Virtual Research Day. October 30, 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19]

Levis B. Using individual participant data meta-analysis to address and overcome challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy. Centre for Biostatistics Seminar Series. University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. September 14, 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19]

Levis B. DEPRESSD-Youth: A proposal for a prospective individual participant data meta-analysis of depression screening tool accuracy in adolescents. 24th World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP). Singapore. July 20-23, 2020. [unable to present due to COVID-19]

Levis B. Use of individual participant data meta-analysis to address and overcome challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy. Leicester Biostatistics Research Group. June 25, 2020. [presented online due to COVID-19]

Levis B. The DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Project: Using individual participant data meta-analysis to address challenges in evaluating depression screening tool accuracy. Mental Health and Addiction Research Group, Department of Health Sciences and Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, UK. May 4, 2020. [postponed due to COVID-19]

Levis B. Using individual participant data meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screening tool. Primary Care Seminar Series. Keele University, Staffordshire, UK. February 26, 2020.

Levis B. Improving depression screening and assessment via individual participant data meta-analysis. Population Health Research Institute Seminar Series, St Georges, University of London, London, UK. February 11, 2020.

Levis B. Improving depression screening and assessment: Using individual patient data meta-analysis to generate personalized risk estimates. Cognitive Processes in Psychopathology and Treatment (CogPT) Seminar, Behavioural Science Institute, Clinical Psychology, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. June 29, 2018.

Thombs BD, Benedetti A, and Levis B. The DEPRESsion Screening Data (DEPRESSD) Project: Using individual participant data meta-analysis to assess diagnostic accuracy and develop individualized depression risk estimates. Centre of Clinical Epidemiology, Jewish General Hospital. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. March 20, 2018.

Levis B and Ainsworth G. Conducting Power Calculations. Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health Applied Research Methods Discussion Group, McGill University. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. October 28, 2016.

Levis B. Selective cutoff reporting in studies of diagnostic accuracy of depression screening tools: Comparing traditional meta-analysis to individual patient data meta-analysis. McGill Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health 50th Anniversary Conference and Alumni Reunion, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. May 1, 2015.

Levis B and Simoneau G. Using individual patient data meta-analysis to address reporting biases in studies of the diagnostic accuracy of depression screening tools. Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit (RECRU) Seminar, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. February 12, 2015.

Thombs BD and Levis B. Individual patient data meta-analysis to address reporting biases in studies of the diagnostic accuracy of depression screening tools. Centre of Clinical Epidemiology, Jewish General Hospital. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. January 20, 2015.

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