Rating Scales for Psychotropic Drug Research with Geriatric Patients. II. Mood Ratings*

Abstract

A review of scales for rating mood in geriatric patients reveals the criteria that must be met: 1) the subject must be responsive and cooperative; 2) the scale should be brief, with clear response choices; and 3) the questions should be clear and relevant to the current situation of the patient. Individual mood scales do not offer much advantage over a brief, well constructed, multidimensional rating scale.In a previous paper (41), we reviewed rating scales which assess observable behavior in a geriatric population. In this communication, we shall focus upon rating scales for the assessment of mood states in the elderly.Alterations in mood states such as depression and anxiety are common in older persons. Late-life depressions, for example, may be particularly severe, and jeopardize the physical health of the patient. Loss of self-esteem and a general sense of hopelessness lead to thoughts of suicide; indeed, suicide rates increase dramatically in the elderly, particularly in males (42).In all age groups, the assessment of mood states is more difficult and not as reliable as the rating of behavior. Except in extreme cases, when it may be reflected by behavior, mood tends to be an inner, private experience. In most cases, therefore, one must ask about a person's feelings, and depend upon his response for assessment. In the elderly, cognitive and

A psychometric analysis of a short device for assessing depression in elderly people

“…Despite reported limitations in applicability (Kochansky, 1979 ;McNair, 1979 ;Salzman, Kochansky, Shader & Cronin, 1972), certain general depression scales (e.g. the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, the Hamilton Depression Scale, etc.)…”

Psychopharmacologic Investigations in Elderly Volunteers: Effect of Diazepam in Males†

“…The results of this study also highlight the many problems in measurement of mood states in the elderly, and the variability in instrumental sensitivity to a drug or placebo effect. Comments have been directed previously towards rating scale construction in geriatric research (29)(30)(31). Self-rating mood scales, in particular, present difficulties for the elderly respondent because of irrelevant questions, difficulty in distinguishing between response points on the scale, the lengthiness of the scales, and the subject's denial of dysphoria.…”

Psychologic and Behavioral Assessment of Geriatric Patients: A Review†

“…Other studies (31) in 1972 reviewed rating scales for psychotropic drug research with geriatric patients in the areas of behavior and mood. They reviewed specific and nonspecific rating scales for the assessment of behavior.…”