Get Geriatric Depression Scale

The 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) is a short form of GDS and is used to screen, diagnose, and evaluate depression in elderly individuals. Most previous studies evaluated the ability of GDS-15 to discriminate between depressive and non-depressive states.

Results highlighted that in cognitively intact or mildly impaired patients over 65 years, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 currently seem to be the preferred instruments.

The Geriatric Depression Scale The instrument is commonly used in primary care settings, geriatric clinics, and hospitals.

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is an instrument that was developed, regarding both content and design, to assess depressive symptoms and screen for depression among older people (Yesavage et al., 1983).

The GDS Long Form is a brief, 30-item questionnaire in which participants are asked to respond by answering yes or no in reference to how they felt over the past week. A Short Form GDS consisting of 15 questions was developed in 1986.

Scales that have been used in the elderly population include the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD).

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) 4-Item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-4)Are you basically satisfied with your life?Yes NODo you feel that your life is empty?YES NoAre you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?YES NoDo you feel happy most of the time?Yes NO20 more rows

The GDS-SF is written at a fourth-grade reading level (Nelson et al., 2010). Examinees are asked to respond “Yes” or “No” to each item in reference to the past week (see Appendix). One point is given for depressive responses. All responses are summed to calculate the GDS-SF score.

Uses. The GDS is frequently used in acute, long-term, and community settings, often part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment. It's appropriate for healthy as well as medically ill adults and those with mild to moderate cognitive impairments.