Does the geriatric depression scale have utility for measuring depression severity?

Int Psychogeriatr. 2017 May;29(5):873-874. doi: 10.1017/S1041610216001575. Epub 2017 Jan 9.

Abstract

The prevalence of major depression ranges from 1% to 16% among elderly living in private households or in institutions, and in similar settings "patients" with clinically relevant depressive symptoms vary between 7.2% and 49% (Djernes, 2006). Community studies looking at point prevalence of depression in older people suggest rates between 10% and 20% depending on cultural situations (Rodda et al., 2011).

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology*
  • Family Characteristics
  • Geriatric Assessment / methods*
  • Humans
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data*
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology