Geriatric depression scale
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Are you basically satisfied with your life? Yes No
Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? Yes No
Do you feel that your life is empty? Yes No
Do you often get bored? Yes No
Are you in good spirits most of the time? Yes No
Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? Yes No
Do you feel happy most of the time? Yes No
Do you often feel helpless? Yes No
Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things? Yes No
Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? Yes No
Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? Yes No
Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? Yes No
Do you feel full of energy? Yes No
Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? Yes No
Do you think that most people are better off than you are? Yes No
R e s u l t s
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GDS Score
 
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Geriatric depression scale

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a scale tested and extensively used in the older population. The GDS long form consisted of 30 questions; the Short Form GDS was developed in 1986 and consists of 15 questions.

The GDS is 92% sensitive and 89% specific for detecting depression in the geriatric population and can be used to monitor depression over time.

These 15 questions are all answered Yes or No.

The patient is ask "Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week (answers are Yes or No):"

  1. Are you basically satisfied with your life?
  2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?
  3. Do you feel that your life is empty?
  4. Do you often get bored?
  5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?
  6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?
  7. Do you feel happy most of the time?
  8. Do you often feel helpless?
  9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things?
  10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?
  11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?
  12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?
  13. Do you feel full of energy?
  14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?
  15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are?

Yes to the following questions = 1 point each:

#2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15

No to the following questions = 1 point each:

#1, 5, 7, 11, 13

The points from these 15 questions are summed to get the GDS Score.

Interpretation:

  • 0-4 pts = Normal (depending on age, education and complaints)
  • 5-8 pts = Mild depression
  • 9-11 pts = Moderate depression
  • 12-15 pts = Severe depression

References:

  • Brink TL, Yesavage JA, Lum O, et al. Screening Tests for Geriatric Depression. Clinical Gerontologist. 1982;1(1):37-43.
  • Yesavage JA, Sheikh JI. 9/Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Clinical Gerontologist. 1986;5(1-2):165-173.
  • Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA, Brooks JO, et al. Proposed factor structure of the Geriatric Depression Scale. Int Psychogeriatr. 1991;3(1):23-8.
  • Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, et al. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res. 1982;17(1):37-49.