T Hoyl1, E Valenzuela, P P Marín. 1. Programa de Geriatría, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 44, Santiago, Chile. mthoyl@med.puc.cl
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The best approach to improve under-recognition of depression is routine screening, ideally using an instrument that is highly effective and easy to administer. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of the 5-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (5-GDS) for depression screening in a community-dwelling Chilean elderly population. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: 110 subjects were evaluated at the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university teaching hospital. Patients answered a questionnaire that included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and demographic information. Using the 15-item GDS score as reference standard to classify subjects as depressed, test characteristics of the 5-GDS were evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects had a mean 15-item GDS score of 5.4; 47% classified as depressed. Depressed and not depressed subjects were similar with regard to demographics, educational level and comorbid conditions. The mean score was 1.9 for the 5-item GDS. Pearson correlation for 15-item and 5-item GDS scores was 0.92, p < 0.001. Using 15-item GDS score as reference standard, the 5-item GDS had a sensitivity of 0.88, specificity 0.90, positive predictive value 0.88 and negative predictive value 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-item GDS seems to be a promising screening tool for depression. If revalidated against clinical evaluation, it might be the preferred screening tool for depression in the Chilean community-dwelling elderly.
INTRODUCTION: The best approach to improve under-recognition of depression is routine screening, ideally using an instrument that is highly effective and easy to administer. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of the 5-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (5-GDS) for depression screening in a community-dwelling Chilean elderly population. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: 110 subjects were evaluated at the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university teaching hospital. Patients answered a questionnaire that included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and demographic information. Using the 15-item GDS score as reference standard to classify subjects as depressed, test characteristics of the 5-GDS were evaluated. RESULTS: Subjects had a mean 15-item GDS score of 5.4; 47% classified as depressed. Depressed and not depressed subjects were similar with regard to demographics, educational level and comorbid conditions. The mean score was 1.9 for the 5-item GDS. Pearson correlation for 15-item and 5-item GDS scores was 0.92, p < 0.001. Using 15-item GDS score as reference standard, the 5-item GDS had a sensitivity of 0.88, specificity 0.90, positive predictive value 0.88 and negative predictive value 0.90. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-item GDS seems to be a promising screening tool for depression. If revalidated against clinical evaluation, it might be the preferred screening tool for depression in the Chilean community-dwelling elderly.
Authors: Rosalba Hernandez; Kiarri N Kershaw; Thomas R Prohaska; Pin-Chieh Wang; David X Marquez; Catherine A Sarkisian Journal: J Aging Health Date: 2014-10-16
Authors: Ana Cristina Viana Campos; Cecilia Albala; Lydia Lera; Hugo Sánchez; Andréa Maria Duarte Vargas; Efigênia Ferreira e Ferreira Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-04-11 Impact factor: 3.295