The even briefer assessment scale for depression (EBAS DEP): its suitability for the elderly in geriatric care in English- and German-speaking countries

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine the psychometric properties of the Even Briefer Assessment Scale for Depression (EBAS DEP) developed by Allen et al. (1994) among samples of the German elderly and compare the results with those from English-speaking countries. DESIGN: Depression scale scores from elderly persons in residential and gerontopsychiatric care were assessed for internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and validity (Feighner Criteria of Depression and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). SUBJECTS: Eight hundred and fifty-two elderly persons aged 65 years and over, in residential and gerontopsychiatric care. MATERIALS: The eight-item Even Briefer Assessment Scale for Depression (EBAS DEP) derived from the 21-item Brief Assessment Scale (BAS DEP). RESULTS: The analysis of the reliability of the German EBAS DEP yielded, as did that of the English version, a satisfactorily high internal consistency (0. 73 and higher). Based on a subset of 71 subjects, the validity of the scale was tested by independent psychiatric experts using the Feighner Criteria of Depression. The EBAS DEP (cutoff 3/4) had a sensitivity and specificity for a diagnosis of depression of 93.3% and 85.3%, respectively. Similar results were reported by Allen et al., but at a lower cutoff (2/3). In agreement with the English findings, the receiver operating curve (ROC) statistics revealed that the EBAS DEP is a screening instrument which is as efficient as the longer BAS DEP. CONCLUSION: The EBAS DEP is an instrument well suited for use in screening the depressed elderly in different care settings in English- and German-speaking countries.