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© 1997 Oxford University Press

research-article

Screening for depression among acutely ill geriatric inpatients with a short geriatric depression scale

AJIT SHAH1, ROSEMARY HERBERT1, SAMARA LEWIS1, RANJINI MAHENDRAN1, JOHN PLATT2 and BINOY BHATTACHARYYA2

1Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School and West Middlesex University Hospital Twickenham Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 6AF, UK
2Departments of Geriatric Medicine and Medicine, West Middlesex University Hospital Isleworth, Middlesex, UK

Address correspondence to: A. Shah. Fax: (+44) 181 321 5961

BACKGROUND:: depression is not uncommon among acutely ill geriatric inpatients.

METHOD:: the performances of shorter versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in screening for depression among acutely ill geriatric inpatients were examined.

RESULTS:: a cut-off of 2/3 gives the best sensitivity (88%) and specificity (75%) for the 10-item version (GDS10). A cutoff of 0/1 gives the best sensitivity (72%) and specificity (90%) for the 4-item version (GDS4). A positive response to item 6 ("Do you often feel helpless?") on the GDS10 gave a sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 75%. Patients found the GDS10 tolerable and acceptable.

CONCLUSION:: both shorter versions of the GDS may be utilized in screening for depression among acutely ill geriatric inpatients.

Keywords: depression, old age, rating, screening

Received October 28, 1996;
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