[Screening for depression by telephone using the German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)].

OBJECTIVE: Analyses of the reliability and validity of the German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the assessment of normative values.
METHOD: A representative sample of 868 people (German population, 18 to 94 years) was assessed via structured interviews in a telephone survey.
RESULTS: According to the cut-off score of 16 points, 8.5 % of the total sample (11.0 % women and 5.6 % men) showed relevant depressive symptoms. When using the cut-off score of 22 points, 3.5 % of the subjects of the total sample, 4.2 % of the women and 2.5% of the men, were classified as depressed. The analysis of the psychometric properties of the instrument such as internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and factor structure revealed moderate to good results. Percentile standard values were determined.
CONCLUSION: The German version of the CES-D can be described as a reliable and valid instrument for detecting depressive symptoms. The present study offers current normative data for the specific use in telephone surveys. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.