Agreement in Depression Determination among Four Self-Rating Depression Scales Applied to Japanese Community-Dwelling Elderly

Objective: In this study, we examined the characteristics of depression determination using four representative self-rating depression scales (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS; Self-rating Depression Scale, SDS; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D; and Carroll Rating Scale, CRS) applied to Japanese community-dwelling elderly. Methods: Subjects were 563 community-dwelling independent elderly living in twelve prefectures (330 males, 68.9±6.3 yr; 233 females, 68.1±5.8 yr). Results: Depression rates determined using SDS (45.8%) and CES-D (68.6%) were higher than those determined using GDS (5.7%) and CRS (14.7%). Although correlations of depression scale scores among the four scales were significant and comparable (r: 0.61 (GDS vs. SDS, p<0.01) to 0.78 (SDS vs. CES-D, p<0.01)), the agreement in depression determination varied among scales (kappa coefficients: 0.05 (GDS vs. CES-D, p>0.05) to 0.46 (SDS vs. CES-D, p<0.01)). Conclusions: Similarities in depression determination were found between GDS and CRS, and between CES-D and SDS. Depression rates determined on the basis of cut-off point for each scale were higher for CES-D and SDS than for GDS and CRS. Depression determination using a four-point rating scale may overestimate a slightly depressive symptom, compared with that using a two-point scale.

Agreement in depression determination among four self-rating depression scales applied to Japanese community-dwelling elderly

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In this study, we examined the characteristics of depression determination using four representative self-rating depression scales (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS; Self-rating Depression Scale, SDS; Center for Epidermiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D; and Carroll Rating Scale, CRS) applied to Japanese community-dwelling elderly.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subjects were 563 community-dwelling independent elderly living in twelve prefectures (330 males, 68,9±6.3 yr; 233 females, 68.1±5.8 yr).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Depression rates determined using SDS (45.8%) and CES-D (68.6%) were higher than those determined using GDS (5.7%) and CRS (14.7%). Although correlations of depression scale scores among the four scales were significant and comparable (r: 0.61 (GDS vs. SDS, p<0.01) to 0.78 (SDS vs. CES-D, p<0.01)), the agreement in depression determination varied among scales (kappa coefficients: 0.05 (GDS vs. CES-D, p>0.05) to 0.46 (SDS vs. CES-D, p<0.01)).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Similarities in depression determination were found between GDS and CRS, and between CES-D and SDS. Depression rates determined on the basis of cut-off point for each scale were higher for CES-D and SDS than for GDS and CRS. Depression determination using a four-point rating scale may overestimate a slightly depressive symptom, compared with that using a two-point scale.</p>

The study of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) in Thai people.

Depression is commonly found in the chronic disable patients and it can effect to rehabilitation process. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) is one of the psychiatric battery of depression measures. It is a 20-item questionnaire investigating perceived mood and level of functioning within the past seven days. Scores are range from 0.06, with higher scores indicating the increased severity of depression. The objective of this study was to establish the optimal cut off point for Thai people. It was performed among 69 medical personals Siriraj Hospital and 30 psychiatric patients from the department of Psychiatry. Everyone was evaluated by CES-D and DSM-IV method. The finding was that the average score for normal, minor and major depression groups were 10.57 + 4.96, 28.29 + 8.36 and 37.15 + 10.65 with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Scores of 19 or higher was considered indicative of depression with 93.33 per cent sensitivity, 94.2 per cent specificity and 0.9154 reliability. The CES-D could be one of the most useful test for screening of depression.