Q&A

What does the Geriatric Depression Scale measure?

What does the Geriatric Depression Scale measure?

Description of Measure: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a self-report measure of depression in older adults. Users respond in a “Yes/No” format. The GDS was originally developed as a 30-item instrument.

What is the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale?

The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15),15 consisting of a series of yes/no questions, is a widely used instrument for the screening of depression in the elderly and in medically ill populations.

Why is the Geriatric Depression Scale used?

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a screening test originally developed by J.A. Yesavage and colleagues in 1982 that is used to identify symptoms of depression in older adults. The scale is a 30-item, self-report instrument that uses a “Yes/No” format.

What is the GDS 15?

Background: The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) is a widely used screening instrument for depressive symptoms in the elderly, but its ability to detect alterations in depressive symptoms over time has not been established.

What is the depression scale out of?

Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints; 5-8 indicate mild depression; 9-11 indicate moderate depression; and 12-15 indicate severe depression.

How reliable is the Geriatric Depression Scale?

The analysis performed considering DSM-5 criteria revealed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of GDS-15 in determining depression were 92%, 91%, 76%, and 97%, respectively, when the cutoff value was taken as ≥5.

Is depression a normal part of the aging process?

Depression is a true and treatable medical condition, not a normal part of aging. However older adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression. If you are concerned about a loved one, offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated.

What is normal GDS score?

0-4
Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, depending on age, education, and complaints; 5-8 indicate mild depression; 9-11 indicate moderate depression; and 12-15 indicate severe depression.

Is the Geriatric Depression Scale a diagnostic tool?

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The GDS is not a substitute for a diagnostic interview by mental health professionals. It is a useful screening tool in the clinical setting to facilitate assessment of depression in older adults especially when baseline measurements are compared to subsequent scores.

What age group is least affected by depression?

The percentage of adults who experienced mild depression symptoms was highest among those aged 18–29 (13.9%), followed by those aged 65 and over (12.0%), and lowest among those aged 45–64 (10.7%) and 30–44 (10.3%).

Is there a scale for depression in older adults?

This scale was developed as a basic screening measure for depression in older adults. We will consider this page to be under continuous development and try to keep translations of the scale available. Anyone with their own translation can submit it to me and we’ll post it- when I get the chance given other responsibilites etc., etc…..

What are the cut off scores for depression?

Cut-off scores for different severities of depression are as follows: For the long form: Normal 0 – 10, Mild 11 – 20, Moderate to Severe 21 – 30. For the short form: Normal 0 – 4, Mild 5 – 9, Moderate to Severe 10 – 15.

Where can I find the Chinese Depression Scale?

Chinese Version in .gif format from Dr. Hing-chu B. Lee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the Clinical Gerontologist. Chinese Version in .gif format source unknown.

When was the Geriatric Depression Scale ( GDS ) created?

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) The Geriatric Depression Scale was developed by Yesavage, Brink, Rose, Lum, Huang, Adey, and Leirer (1982). It was designed specifically for the aged, as a screening instrument for depression. The scale.