Validation of the Geriatric Depression Scale Among Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

The Geriatric Depression Scale has been found to be a helpful screening instrument for depression among psychiatric and community elderly, but has never been validated among elderly nursing home residents. The reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale was examined among 51 nursing home residents. Reliability was assessed using several methods and was found to be acceptable. Validity was established using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Major Depression as the classification criterion. The Geriatric Depression Scale significantly differentiated between residents with (a) no depression, (b) depressive features, and (c) Major Depression. Using recommended cutoff scores, the sensitivity rate for the Geriatric Depression Scale was 100 percent for residents with Major Depression. The results indicate that the Geriatric Depression Scale appears to be a helpful screening instrument for depression among nursing home residents.