Geriatric Depression Scale
A questionnaire to screen for depression in geriatric populations
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was developed as a basic screening tool to assess for depression in older adults.
The GDS uses a simple yes/no response format and is available in 30-, 15-, and 5-item versions though the 15-item version is offered here.
The 15-item version (sensitivity 81 percent, specificity 78 percent) performs better than the 30-item version for identifying late-life depression in primary care.
Although GDS is frequently used by specialists in Geriatric, the PHQ-9 has been shown to perform as well or better in geriatric patients, including those who are cognitively impaired or living in nursing homes.
- [1]Brink TL, Yesavage JA, Lum O, Heersema P, Adey MB, Rose TL.: Screening tests for geriatric depression. Clinical Gerontologist 1: 37-44, 1982.
- [2]Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, Lum O, Huang V, Adey MB, Leirer VO.: Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report.Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17 (1): 37-49
- [3]Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA.: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontology : A Guide to Assessment and Intervention 165-173, NY: The Haworth Press, 1986.
- [4]Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA, Brooks JO, III, Friedman LF, Gratzinger P, Hill RD, Zadeik A, Crook T.: Proposed factor structure of the Geriatric Depression Scale.International Psychogeriatrics 1991, 3 (1): 23-8
Results
Real-time automated computation
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was developed as a basic screening tool to assess for depression in older adults.
The GDS uses a simple yes/no response format and is available in 30-, 15-, and 5-item versions though the 15-item version is offered here.
The 15-item version (sensitivity 81 percent, specificity 78 percent) performs better than the 30-item version for identifying late-life depression in primary care.
Although GDS is frequently used by specialists in Geriatric, the PHQ-9 has been shown to perform as well or better in geriatric patients, including those who are cognitively impaired or living in nursing homes.
- [1]Brink TL, Yesavage JA, Lum O, Heersema P, Adey MB, Rose TL.: Screening tests for geriatric depression. Clinical Gerontologist 1: 37-44, 1982.
- [2]Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, Lum O, Huang V, Adey MB, Leirer VO.: Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report.Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17 (1): 37-49
- [3]Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA.: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontology : A Guide to Assessment and Intervention 165-173, NY: The Haworth Press, 1986.
- [4]Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA, Brooks JO, III, Friedman LF, Gratzinger P, Hill RD, Zadeik A, Crook T.: Proposed factor structure of the Geriatric Depression Scale.International Psychogeriatrics 1991, 3 (1): 23-8