Accuracy of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) in a community sample of the oldest old

✍ Scribed by Anton J. M. de Craen; T. J. Heeren; Jacobijn Gussekloo

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 50 KB
• Volume: 18
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.773

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Cognitive impairment is common in the oldest old. this might influence the sensitivity and specificity of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (gds-15). few studies, however, have included subjects older than 85 years to evaluate the gds-15 as a screening instrument for depression.

Objective:

To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the gds-15 in a community sample of the oldest old.

Methods:

Seventy-nine subjects aged 85 and over were enrolled in the study. the gds-15 and the mini-mental state examination (mmse) were administered by a trained interviewer. within two days the geriatric mental state (gms)/agecat, was administered to obtain a clinical diagnosis of depression.

Results:

Eight subjects (10%) were diagnosed with clinical depression. at a cut-off point of 3/4 the sensitivity and specificity of the gds-15 were 88% and 76% respectively. in the group with mmse scores of 28 and higher sensitivity was unaffected at all cut-off points while specificity increased. in the group with mmse scores below 28 sensitivity was also unaffected at all cut-off points while specificity decreased.

Conclusion:

The gds-15 is a suitable instrument to diagnose depression in the general population of the oldest old. the optimal cut-off point depends on its intended use. in subjects with cognitive impairment the accuracy should be investigated further.