OBJECTIVES: To examine a) whether the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) can predict clinician-rated suicide ideation and depression, using the 15-, 5-, and 4-item versions, b) whether an additional suicide-ideation item would improve the performance, and c) whether the results vary by age groups. METHODS: First-time psychiatric outpatients responded to the GDS. They were subsequently assessed by psychiatrists blind to the GDS, who also indicated whether suicide ideation was present. The performance of the GDS scales was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Analyses were conducted separately for young-old (aged 60-74 years) and old-old (aged 75 years or older) adults. RESULTS: Areas under the curves showed that the different GDS versions were comparable in detecting depression and suicide ideation. For identifying depression, thresholds of 7, 2, and 2 for the 15-, 5-, and 4-item versions were optimal, respectively. In terms of detecting suicide ideation, all measures performed better in old-old than in young-old adults. A single, self-report suicide-ideation item performed better than all multiitem GDS measures. CONCLUSIONS: Both the 4- and the 5-item versions are excellent alternatives to the 15-item version, and all are reasonable tools for detecting the presence of suicide ideation also. However, to improve the effectiveness of screening, brief measures of suicide risk should also be included. Even a 1-item measure of suicide ideation can improve clinical decisions tremendously.
OBJECTIVES: To examine a) whether the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) can predict clinician-rated suicide ideation and depression, using the 15-, 5-, and 4-item versions, b) whether an additional suicide-ideation item would improve the performance, and c) whether the results vary by age groups. METHODS: First-time psychiatric outpatients responded to the GDS. They were subsequently assessed by psychiatrists blind to the GDS, who also indicated whether suicide ideation was present. The performance of the GDS scales was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Analyses were conducted separately for young-old (aged 60-74 years) and old-old (aged 75 years or older) adults. RESULTS: Areas under the curves showed that the different GDS versions were comparable in detecting depression and suicide ideation. For identifying depression, thresholds of 7, 2, and 2 for the 15-, 5-, and 4-item versions were optimal, respectively. In terms of detecting suicide ideation, all measures performed better in old-old than in young-old adults. A single, self-report suicide-ideation item performed better than all multiitem GDS measures. CONCLUSIONS: Both the 4- and the 5-item versions are excellent alternatives to the 15-item version, and all are reasonable tools for detecting the presence of suicide ideation also. However, to improve the effectiveness of screening, brief measures of suicide risk should also be included. Even a 1-item measure of suicide ideation can improve clinical decisions tremendously.
Authors: Wen Jie Sun; Lin Xu; Wai Man Chan; Tai Hing Lam; C Mary Schooling Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2011-03-08 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Annie C H Fung; Gary Tse; Hiu Lam Cheng; Eric S H Lau; Andrea Luk; Risa Ozaki; Tammy T Y So; Rebecca Y M Wong; Joshua Tsoh; Elaine Chow; Yun Kwok Wing; Juliana C N Chan; Alice P S Kong Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2018-05-29 Impact factor: 5.555
Authors: Huyen Thi Thanh Vu; Valentina Lin; Thang Pham; Tuan Le Pham; Anh Trung Nguyen; Hung Trong Nguyen; Thanh Xuan Nguyen; Tam Ngoc Nguyen; Huong Thu Thi Nguyen; Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen; Long Hoang Nguyen; Quang Nhat Nguyen; Huong Lan Thi Nguyen; Tung Hoang Tran; Bach Xuan Tran; Carl A Latkin; Cyrus S H Ho; Roger C M Ho Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-07-25 Impact factor: 3.390