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

Abstract

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.

Cough variant asthma patients are more depressed and anxious than classic asthma patients

“…SDS is a somewhat old scale, but has been translated into most languages, and especially Chinese and Japanese specialists in psychosomatic medicine often use it for rating depression even today [33][34][35]. Demura et al reported the correlation of depression scale scores between SDS and CES-D in 563 Japanese was significant and comparable (correlation coefficient: 0.78, p b 0.01), and similarities in depression determination were found between SDS and CES-D [36].…”

Depression among older people in Sri Lanka: With special reference to ethnicity

“…Older people are vulnerable, as they often have multiple coexisting medical and psychological problems . In addition, depression is a common response to negative life events, such as being widowed or divorced, being retired, and loss of social role and network among older people . Depression decreases an individual's quality of life and increases dependence on others .…”

“…The World Health Organization estimates that the worldwide prevalence of depression varies between 10% and 20% . Its prevalence among older people ranged from 3.6% to 30.6% in Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and the USA…”

Characteristics of depression in community‐dwelling elderly people as indicated by the tree‐drawing test

“…9 Psychological testing of depression in elderly people has been performed mostly by the questionnaire method, typically using the Geriatric Depression Scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Carroll Rating Scale. 10 The Geriatric Depression Scale is a 30-item questionnaire developed specifically for the elderly; 11 it has been used frequently for the evaluation of depression in elderly people. 12 In addition, a 15-item short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) has been developed for easier use, and it has been used in many previous studies.…”