An investigation into the utility of the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQ) in care home settings

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of the Stroke Aphasia Depression Scale (SADQ) to identify emotional distress among individuals living in a care home setting. DESIGN: A prospective comparison of the SADQ and the depression subsection of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). SETTING: Care homes in Oxfordshire. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two care home residents without major communication or cognitive problems. MEASURES: Participants completed the HADS. The SADQ was completed on behalf of each resident by his or her principal carer. RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlation between the two measures was statistically significant (r = 0.447, P < 0.01). Receiver operator characteristics plots revealed an optimal cut-off point of 14 on the SADQ which gave sensitivity and specificity of 77% and 78% respectively. CONCLUSION: The SADQ, an observational measure, can identify emotional distress in non-aphasic patients in a care home setting. It would be reasonable to use it with people with communication and cognitive problems who are unable to take part in conventional assessments.