BRIEF COMMUNICATION.

TLDR

The CES‑D is widely used for late‑life depression and has favorable psychometric properties, yet its criterion validity in elderly community‑based samples has not been established. The study assessed criterion validity in 487 Dutch adults aged 55–85 by comparing CES‑D scores to a 1‑month major depression diagnosis from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The CES‑D showed 100 % sensitivity, 88 % specificity, and a 13.2 % positive predictive value for major depression, with false positives not more common among those with physical illness, cognitive decline or anxiety, indicating very satisfactory criterion validity in older adults.

Abstract

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) has been widely used in studies of late-life depression. Psychometric properties are generally favourable, but data on the criterion validity of the CES-D in elderly community-based samples are lacking. In a sample of older (55-85 years) inhabitants of the Netherlands, 487 subjects were selected to study criterion validity of the CES-D. Using the 1-month prevalence of major depression derived from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) as criterion, the weighted sensitivity of the CES-D was 100%; specificity 88%; and positive predictive value 13.2%. False positives were not more likely among elderly with physical illness, cognitive decline or anxiety. We conclude that the criterion validity of the CES-D for major depression was very satisfactory in this sample of older adults.