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Short scales were as effective as long scales in screening for depression in older patients

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 QUESTION: In older patients, are short scales as effective as long scales in screening for depression?

Design

Blinded comparison of 3 Geriatric Depression Scales (GDS-4, GDS-15, and GDS-30) and the Mental Health Inventory-1 (MHI-1) scale with diagnostic criteria of research of International Classification of Diseases—10th edition (DCR-10).

Setting

A teaching hospital in the UK

Patients

87 patients (mean age 79 y, 60% women) who were > 60 years of age and attended the day rehabilitation facility or were admitted to the medical rehabilitation wards. Patients were excluded if they had an illness, communication problems, or a score of < 6 on the 10-item Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT).

Description of tests and diagnostic standard

The GDS-30, GDS-4, 10-item AMT, and …

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Footnotes

  • Source of funding: not stated.

  • For correspondence: Professor I Philp, Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK.