Search statement sent to Medline: F TI (GERIATRIC DEPRESSION SCALE)

Search result: 20 citations in the Medline database

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1. Chan AC. Clinical validation of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS):

Chinese version. Journal of Aging and Health, 1996 May, 8(2):238-53. (UI:

96714863)

Abstract

This study has attempted to validate the Geriatric Depression Scale

translated version (Chinese) with a psychiatric outpatient sample (N = 461)

of males and females aged 60 or above, from 10 government-maintained

psychiatric outpatient clinics between January 1992 and February 1993.

Reliabilities and validities were exceptional. Internal consistency

reliability was .89 (alpha), and the test-retest reliability was .85

(alpha). Criterion-related (psychiatrist diagnosis) validity was good at

.95, and concurrent validity (with CES-D) was .96. Item analysis also

confirmed consistency--all 30 items were significantly correlated with the

full GDS. However, its sensitivity (70.6%), specificity (70.1%), false

negatives (29.4%), and false positives (29.9%), though acceptable, were not

as impressive. The overall result has shown that the GDS is generally

applicable to the Chinese elderly population and is good for measuring

depressive symptoms. The scale can be easily applied in the community by

health care professionals. However, further follow-up studies are

recommended.

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2. Coleman PG; Philp I; Mullee MA. Does the use of the Geriatric Depression

Scale make redundant the need for separate measures of well-being on

geriatrics wards? Age and Ageing, 1995 Sep, 24(5):416-20. (UI: 96111041)

Abstract

Patients (n = 321) on geriatrics wards were asked to complete two or three

of four well-being measures: the Geriatric Depression Scale, Philadelphia

Geriatric Center Morale Scale, Southampton Self-esteem Scale and the

Bradburn Affect Balance Scale. Analyses, including factor analysis,

correlations and box-and-whisker plots, were carried out to investigate

similarities In patient profiles provided by the different scales. The GDS

showed similar profiles to the other measures, particularly the self-esteem

scale, discriminating at the 'high' as well as 'low well-being' ends of the

scales. These results indicate that, as far as clinical practice is

concerned, additional use of such well-being measures may be unnecessary.

Examination of different approaches to assessing well- being in clinical

practice is required, for example measures of 'life strengths'.

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3. Burke WJ; Roccaforte WH; Wengel SP; Conley DM; Potter JF. The reliability

and validity of the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale administered by

telephone. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1995 Jun,

43(6):674-9. (UI: 95294322)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prospectively the reliability and validity of the

Geriatric Depression Scale administered by telephone (T-GDS) in patients

undergoing outpatient comprehensive geriatric assessment. SUBJECTS: A total

of 101 geriatric patients were evaluated in a 1-year period at the

outpatient Geriatric Assessment Center of the University of Nebraska Medical

Center.

METHODS: The 30-item GDS was completed by all patients on three occasions:

by telephone several days before their assessment, face-to-face during their

assessment visit, and several days later, again by phone. During their

assessment, all patients were evaluated by one of three geriatric

psychiatrists who were blind to all GDS results. The test-retest reliability

of the T-GDS was measured by comparing the results of the two phone

interviews. The construct validity of the T-GDS was estimated by comparing

the results of the initial T-GDS to the GDS obtained during the

comprehensive assessment. The criterion validity of the T-GDS was estimated

by comparing the results of the T-GDS with the clinical diagnosis of

depression assigned by the psychiatrists.

RESULTS: The individual items of the initial T-GDS showed substantial

concordance with the second T-GDS (kappa range 0.35-0.75, mean = 0.52), and

with the assessment GDS (kappa range 0.29-0.75, mean = 0.52). One item

showed evidence of bias when comparing the two T-GDSs, and two items when

comparing the initial T-GDS to the GDS done during the assessment. The mean

number of symptomatic responses was not significantly different for the

T-GDS versus assessment administration but did decline slightly when

comparing the two T-GDSs. ROC curve analyses showed good agreement between

the clinical diagnosis and the T-GDS.

CONCLUSION: The GDS appears to maintain its reliability and validity when

administered via telephone and thus may be useful for a variety of

epidemiological and clinical purposes.

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4. Morishita L; Boult C; Ebbitt B; Rambel M; Fallstrom K; Gooden T.

Concurrent validity of administering the Geriatric Depression Scale and the

physical functioning dimension of the SIP by telephone. Journal of the

American Geriatrics Society, 1995 Jun, 43(6):680-3. (UI: 95294323)

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5. van Marwijk HW; Wallace P; de Bock GH; Hermans J; Kaptein AA; Mulder JD.

Evaluation of the feasibility, reliability and diagnostic value of shortened

versions of the geriatric depression scale. British Journal of General

Practice, 1995 Apr, 45(393):195-9. (UI: 95336782)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Many scales have been developed to assess depression, but they

are often too lengthy to be of practical use in general practice

consultations. AIM. A study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility,

reliability and diagnostic value of the geriatric depression scale and its

shorter versions for screening in general practice.

METHOD: A total of 586 consecutive consulting patients aged 65 years and

over were studied in nine general practices in the west of the Netherlands

(13 doctors). The 30-item version of the geriatric depression value was

compared with the diagnostic interview schedule as a reference test.

RESULTS: The reference test indicated a major depression in six patients

while 27 patients had a dysthymic disorder (that is, a chronic mild

depression). Five per cent of patients required help for 50% of the

questions on the geriatric depression scale. The diagnostic value of the

30-item, 15-item, 10-item and four-item versions did not differ

significantly, but the one-item version performed no better than chance. Two

items discriminated best between patients who were and who were not

depressed (P < 0.05), only one of which was included in a previously

proposed four-item version of the scale. The reliability of the proposed

four-item version was 0.64, the reliability of the other versions ranging

from 0.70 to 0.87.

CONCLUSION: The results for the different versions of the geriatric

depression scale suggest the use of a 10-item or a four-item version. For

practical purposes, the smallest subset would be the most desirable: the

four-item version. These scales may be better suited for exclusion rather

than inclusion purposes. The feasibility of screening for depression in

elderly people in a general practice setting is discussed in the light of

the results of the study.

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6. Bach M; Nikolaus T; Oster P; Schlierf G. [Diagnosis of depression in the

elderly. The "Geriatric Depression Scale"]. Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und

Geriatrie, 1995 Jan-Feb, 28(1):42-6. Language: German. (UI: 95292149)

Abstract

Psychiatric diseases are very common among elderly people. Depressions rank

before dementias in this age group. 2-2.5 million people aged over 65 years

are suffering from symptoms of depression in Germany. Patients with Mayor

Depression Disease (MDD) have a poor prognosis. MDD should therefore be

recognized and treated in community dwelling elderly, in nursing homes and

in hospitals. Underdiagnosis of MDD is well documented in the medical

literature. Only a quarter of patients with a MDD are detected. By a short

screening test for depression such as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

depressed patients can be identified. With a sensitivity and specificity of

about 70%. The time needed to perform the short form of the GDS is only 5-7

min. The GDS is an important part of many assessment programs in England and

USA. It is also recommended in Germany by the "Geriatric Assessment" working

group.

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7. Chiu HF; Lee HC; Wing YK; Kwong PK; Leung CM; Chung DW. Reliability,

validity and structure of the Chinese Geriatric Depression Scale in a Hong

Kong context: a preliminary report. Singapore Medical Journal, 1994 Oct,

35(5):477-80. (UI: 95215892)

Abstract

Depression is one of the commonest psychiatric illness in the elderly.

Screening instruments of depression can greatly facilitate its

identification in the community, leading to early recognition and diagnosis.

The Geriatric Depression Scale was translated into Chinese and its

reliability, validity and factor structure examined in a population of

Chinese elderly in Hong Kong. One hundred and thirteen normal and 80

depressed elderly subjects were studied and a cut-off score of 15 on the

scale was found to be optimal. The scale's reliability and validity was

satisfactory and thus it is a promising instrument for screening geriatric

depression in Hong Kong.

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8. D'Ath P; Katona P; Mullan E; Evans S; Katona C. Screening, detection and

management of depression in elderly primary care attenders. I: The

acceptability and performance of the 15 item Geriatric Depression Scale

(GDS15) and the development of short versions. Family Practice, 1994 Sep,

11(3):260-6. (UI: 95145837)

Abstract

One-hundred and ninety-eight elderly subjects attending their general

practitioners (GPs) were asked to complete the 15 item Geriatric Depression

Scale (GDS15). Analysable results were obtained from 194 (98%). Of these, 67

(34%) scored above the GDS15 cut-off (4/5) for significant depressive

symptomatology. 87.6% found the questionnaire to be acceptable and only 3.6%

found it very difficult or very stressful. The GDS15 had a high level of

internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80). All the individual items of

the GDS15 associated significantly (P < 0.01) with total score and

'caseness'. A single question "do you feel that your life is empty?"

identified 84% of 'cases'. In an attempt to devise short scales to screen

elderly primary care patients for depression, the data were subjected to

logistic regression analysis. Ten (GDS10), four (GDS4) and on (GDS1) item

versions were generated. Agreement between these short scales and the GDS15

in the original sample was 95, 91 and 79% respectively. Cronbach's alpha was

0.72 for the GDS10 and 0.55 for the GDS4. The short scales were then

validated in an independent sample of 120 patients in whom both GDS data and

the results of a detailed psychiatric interview (the Geriatric Mental Status

Schedule, GMS) were available. The sensitivity and specificity of the GDS10

against GMS caseness were 87 and 77% (cut-off 3/4); those of the GDS4 were

89 and 65% (cut-off 0/1) and 61 and 81% (cut-off 1/2). Sensitivity and

specificity for the GDS1 were 59 and 75%. It is concluded that these short

scales may be useful in helping GPs and practice staff to identify elderly

patients with significant depressive symptoms.

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9. Lesher EL; Berryhill JS. Validation of the Geriatric Depression

Scale--Short Form among inpatients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1994

Mar, 50(2):256-60. (UI: 94284359)

Abstract

Little is known about the diagnostic validity of the 15-item Geriatric

Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), especially when compared to the

original 30-item version (Geriatric Depression Scale-Long Form; GDS-LF).

This study compared the GDS-SF and GDS-LF with a sample of depressed,

demented, and thought-disordered inpatients. The GDS-SF and GDS-LF were

found to be highly correlated (r = .89) and to have similar high sensitivity

rates. The specificity rates for both forms were similar, but lower than

desirable. Overall, the GDS-SF was found to be an adequate substitute for

the GDS-LF.

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10. Tollefson GD; Holman SL. Analysis of the Hamilton Depression Rating

Scale factors from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine in

geriatric major depression. International Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1993

Winter, 8(4):253-9. Pub type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Multicenter

Study; Randomized Controlled Trial. (UI: 94103604)

Abstract

Major depression during later life represents a clinical challenge.

Conventional antidepressant pharmacotherapy is relatively less well

tolerated in geriatric patients compared with younger patients. Despite the

striking impairments associated with this disorder, clinical investigations

into the relative risk-benefit ratio of various depression treatment

strategies have been limited. In this multicentre, placebo-controlled,

double-blind trial with fluoxetine, 671 major depressed

(DSM-III-R-compatible) outpatients aged 60 years or older were evaluated.

The 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD21) response (p = 0.014)

and remission (p = 0.008) criteria favoured fluoxetine over placebo.

Analysis of the treatment effect on change in the HAMD21 factors

(anxiety/somatization, cognitive disturbance, psychomotor retardation, and

sleep disturbance) revealed advantages for fluoxetine within the cognitive

disturbance and psychomotor retardation factors. Overall, the rate of

discontinuation for an adverse event between fluoxetine (11.6%) and placebo

(8.6%) was not statistically significant. Baseline HAMD21 factor scores were

not predictive of adverse events leading to premature treatment

discontinuation. Fluoxetine, 20 mg/day, is a well-tolerated and effective

treatment option in the management of geriatric major depression.

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11. Jackson R; Baldwin B. Detecting depression in elderly medically ill

patients: the use of the Geriatric Depression Scale compared with medical

and nursing observations. Age and Ageing, 1993 Sep, 22(5):349-53. (UI:

94055986)

Abstract

In a study of 59 elderly medically ill in-patients, 35% were found to have

significant depressive symptomatology, as detected by the Geriatric Mental

Status Schedule (GMSS). Of two screening methods, the Geriatric Depression

Scale (GDS) performed satisfactorily but detection by nurses was poor.

Acknowledgement of depression in medical casenotes was low. Training of

nurses might improve detection; otherwise a mood-rating scale such as the

GDS should be incorporated into routine practice.

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12. Brink TL. Statistical impact of truncated sampling or alteration of

administration: the case of the Geriatric Depression Scale [letter;

comment]. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1993 Apr, 41(4):465-6.

Pub type: Comment; Letter. (UI: 93217103)

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13. Loas G. [Unidimensionality of the Yesavage and Brink Geriatric

Depression Scale (letter; comment)]. Encephale, 1993 Mar-Apr, 19(2):123.

Language: French. Pub type: Comment; Letter. (UI: 94102145)

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14. Burke WJ; Nitcher RL; Roccaforte WH; Wengel SP. A prospective evaluation

of the Geriatric Depression Scale in an outpatient geriatric assessment

center. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1992 Dec,

40(12):1227-30. (UI: 93077860)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in

cognitively intact and impaired patients undergoing outpatient geriatric

assessment. SUBJECTS: One hundred ninety-four geriatric patients evaluated

in a 1-year period. SETTING: The outpatient Geriatric Assessment Center of

the University of Nebraska Medical Center. MEASUREMENTS: The 30-item GDS was

completed by all patients. The patients were then evaluated by one of three

geriatric psychiatrists who were blind to the GDS results. The prospective

clinical diagnosis of major depression was compared to the GDS results.

Patients were categorized as cognitively impaired or intact on the basis of

the Mini-Mental State Examination. Data were analyzed using ROC curves. An

optimal cutoff was identified which was the total score on the GDS with the

highest combined sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS: ROC curve analyses showed good agreement between the clinical

diagnosis and the GDS in both cognitively intact and impaired subjects.

Cognitively intact, euthymic patients reported a mean of 8.4 symptoms, while

cognitively impaired, euthymic patients, reported a mean of 8.7. Cognitively

intact, depressed patients reported a mean of 14.7 symptoms, while

cognitively impaired, depressed patients reported a mean of 15.0.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence that the GDS is as

accurate a screening test for depression in cognitively impaired as in

intact patients.

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15. Salamero M; Marcos T. Factor study of the Geriatric Depression Scale.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1992 Oct, 86(4):283-6. (UI: 93089081)

Abstract

A sample of 234 people between the ages of 60 and 95 was studied using the

Brink-Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The GDS has good concurrent

validity with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression with the Melancholia

Scale (r = 0.77), which confirms the clinical utility of this scale. A

factor analysis of principal components with an oblimin rotation was

performed. The results obtained imply that structural validation cannot be

made in relation to Beck's cognitive model of depression. It can be

concluded that the elimination of the somatic items does not add any

theoretical correspondence with the model, as the factors tend to group the

various items into one dimension.

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16. Cialdella P; Guillaud-Bataille JM; Gausset MF; Terra JL; Gerin P;

Palliard E; Jouishomme JC. [Study of the uni-dimensionality of the

Yesavage-Brinck geriatric depression scale. Comparison between classical

methods and Rasch's model (see comments)]. Encephale, 1992 Sep-Oct,

18(5):537-44. Language: French. (UI: 94062592)

Abstract

The authors present a contribution to the french validation of the

self-rating questionnaire of the depression in the elderly proposed by

Yesavage and Brink (1982), the Geriatric Depression Scale (30 items). This

study focusses on the assessment of the homogeneity and of the

unidimensionality of this scale. 99 aged women living in old-people homes or

attending a geriatric somatic day-hospital, not known to be psychiatrically

ill, filled the GDS and were interviewed by either a psychiatrist or by a

clinical psychologist. This interview yielded 44 cases of Major Depressive

Disorder or of Dysthymia (DSM III). Firstly, we have applied the classical

correlational methods of assessment of scale Reliability and Construct

Validity: Cronbach's coefficient alpha and item-total correlations

(homogeneity) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) without rotation. Then,

we have performed a Rasch Model Analysis: this method which belongs to the

general frame of Latent Trait Theory relies on a probabilistic model of

subject's response to individual questions. In the Rasch model, the response

probability of a given subject to a given item is a logistic function of the

difference between the item location parameter and the subject location

parameter along a single continuous latent dimension. Our results have shown

that the Cronbach's alpha was very high (.902) and that the item-total

correlations were quite satisfactory (mean .470), thus giving a strong

impression of homogeneity (similar to unidimensionality for many

authors).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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17. Feher EP; Larrabee GJ; Crook TH 3d. Factors attenuating the validity of

the Geriatric Depression Scale in a dementia population [see comments].

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1992 Sep, 40(9):906-9. (UI:

92381244)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in

cognitively impaired patients has been questioned. We investigated possible

factors (memory loss, dementia severity, unawareness of illness) attenuating

the validity of the GDS in patients with dementia. PATIENTS: Eighty-three

patients who met research diagnostic criteria for "probable Alzheimer's

disease." Subjects with major depressive disorder were excluded. Dementia

severity ranged from mild to moderate. SETTING: Outpatient clinics,

including institutional settings and private research settings.

MEASUREMENTS: Depression--GDS; Hamilton Depression Scale. Memory--Wechsler

Memory Scale; Benton Visual Retention Test. Dementia severity--Mini-Mental

State Examination. Self-awareness of cognitive deficits--Difference score

between a self-report memory questionnaire and an informant-rated memory

questionnaire.

RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed that Hamilton scores were the

major predictor of GDS scores. Memory scores and self-awareness scores were

also significant predictors. Dementia severity scores were not a significant

predictor.

CONCLUSIONS: The GDS is a valid measure of mild-to-moderate depressive

symptoms in Alzheimer patients with mild-to-moderate dementia. However,

Alzheimer patients who disavow cognitive deficits also tend to disavow

depressive symptoms, and the GDS should be used with caution in such

patients. Finally, the argument that memory impairment precludes accurate

self-report of recent mood is negated by our finding that many patients

accurately reported depressive symptoms and that worse memory was associated

with more self-reported depressive symptoms.

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18. Brink TL; Niemeyer L. Assessment of depression in college students:

Geriatric Depression Scale versus Center for Epidemiological Studies

Depression Scale. Psychological Reports, 1992 Aug, 71(1):163-6. (UI:

92409942)

Abstract

103 college students took the Geriatric Depression Scale and Center for

Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale along with five measures of life

satisfaction. The correlation between scores on the first scales was .66.

Both depression scales had moderate negative correlations (-.34 to -.71)

with each measure of life satisfaction. However, on every measure of life

satisfaction, the correlation with scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale

was higher than with those on the CES-Depression Scale.

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19. Lichtenberg PA; Marcopulos BA; Steiner DA; Tabscott JA. Comparison of

the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale:

detection of depression in dementia patients. Psychological Reports, 1992

Apr, 70(2):515-21. (UI: 92285383)

Abstract

The present longitudinal prospective study compared results from the

Geriatric Depression Scale with those from the Hamilton Depression Rating

Scale for 30 dementia patients. The criterion measure was presence of

depression as indicated by the psychiatric diagnosis. The psychiatrist and

physician's assistant made the Hamilton ratings while the psychology staff

administered the Geriatric Depression Scale. The two measures were

statistically unrelated from Times 1 and 2 (rs = .26 and .41). Eleven (37%)

patients were depressed and nine received antidepressant medications.

Sensitivity ratings were 82% and 9%, respectively, and specificity ratings

were 88% and 92%, respectively. Possible explanations for the success of the

Geriatric Depression Scale and lack of success of the Hamilton ratings in

detecting depression in this population are discussed.

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20. Jamison C; Scogin F. Development of an interview-based geriatric

depression rating scale. International Journal of Aging and Human

Development, 1992, 35(3):193-204. (UI: 93014303)

Abstract

The geriatric depression rating scale (GDRS) is a new interview-based

depression rating scale designed for use with adults 60 years of age or

older. The scale was developed to fill a need for an instrument that would

be sensitive to the problems encountered in assessing depression among older

adults. The GDRS was designed by using items from the self-report Geriatric

Depression Scale (GDS) as topic areas in a structured clinical interview

similar to that of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). The

35-item rating scale was administered to 68 older individuals with a range

of affective disturbance. The scale was found to have internal consistency

and split-half reliability comparable to the HRSD and GDS. Concurrent

validity, construct validity, external criterion validity, sensitivity, and

specificity were all found to be acceptable.