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Some sources estimate the incidence of depression among the elderly who live in the community at 8-15%. Among those who entered a nursing home in the prior year, that figure rises to greater than half.

The GDS is frequently used in acute, long-term, and community settings, often part of a comprehensive geriatric assessment. It’s appropriate for healthy as well as medically ill adults and those with mild to moderate cognitive impairments.

Although adepression diagnosisshould not be based on GDS results alone, it’s often included in a diagnostic assessment because of its established reliability and validity.

The GDS differs from depression screening instruments used in younger populations because some somatic symptoms—such as weight loss, pessimism about the future, andsleep disturbances—can be related to aging itself. For this reason, the GDS focuses specifically on psychiatric rather than somatic symptoms.

Although the GDS is used primarily for the elderly, evidence indicates that it could be a reliable screening instrument in people as young as 40.

Recent research indicates that the GDS-15 is useful in distinguishing between normal, minor depressive disorder (MnDD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in elderly people.

Forms

The GDS is available in three forms:

Questions on the ScaleChoose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week:1. Are you basically satisfied with your life? YES /NO2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? YES / NO3. Do you feel that your life is empty? YES / NO4. Do you often get bored? YES / NO5. Are you in good spirits most of the time? YES / NO6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? YES / NO7. Do you feel happy most of the time? YES / NO8. Do you often feel helpless? YES / NO9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things? YES / NO10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? YES / NO11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? YES / NO12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? YES / NO13. Do you feel full of energy? YES / NO14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? YES / NO15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are? YES / NO

Questions on the Scale

Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week:1. Are you basically satisfied with your life? YES /NO2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? YES / NO3. Do you feel that your life is empty? YES / NO4. Do you often get bored? YES / NO5. Are you in good spirits most of the time? YES / NO6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? YES / NO7. Do you feel happy most of the time? YES / NO8. Do you often feel helpless? YES / NO9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things? YES / NO10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? YES / NO11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? YES / NO12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? YES / NO13. Do you feel full of energy? YES / NO14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? YES / NO15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are? YES / NO

Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week:

  1. Are you basically satisfied with your life? YES /NO

  2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? YES / NO

  3. Do you feel that your life is empty? YES / NO

  4. Do you often get bored? YES / NO

  5. Are you in good spirits most of the time? YES / NO

  6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? YES / NO

  7. Do you feel happy most of the time? YES / NO

  8. Do you often feel helpless? YES / NO

  9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things? YES / NO

  10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? YES / NO

  11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? YES / NO

  12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? YES / NO

  13. Do you feel full of energy? YES / NO

  14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? YES / NO

  15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are? YES / NO

Each answer that indicates depression scores one point. For example, in the above questions, one point would be given if the person answered “no” for the first question and “yes” for the second. The answer that could indicate depression is typically underlined or bolded to indicate the responses for which a point is given. Scores for the GDS-15 range from 0 to 15: The higher the score, the more severe the depression is likely to be.

The GDS -15 is scored as follows:

Using the GDS for People With Dementia

In addition to accurately identifying depression in people with intact cognition, the GDS can a useful screening tool for people whose Mini-Mental State Exam (a questionnaire that is used to measure cognitive impairment) scores were at 15 or above.

However, a study comparing the GSD with the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) concluded that the GSD is accurate in older adults without dementia, and the CSDD tended to be more accurate for those with dementia.

How Depression Tests Work

Depression in the elderlyis very common, but it isn’t inevitable. If you or someone you know is showing signs of depression, help is available. The GDS is often the starting point for practitioners, who can then develop an appropriate and effective treatment plan.

8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Blazer DG.Depression in late life: Review and commentary.FOC. 2009;7(1):118-136. doi:10.1176/foc.7.1.foc118Lach HW, Chang YP, Edwards D.Can older adults with dementia accurately report depression using brief forms? Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale.J Gerontol Nurs. 2010;36(5):30-7. doi:10.3928/00989134-20100303-01Conradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-645. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231Rule BG, Harvey HZ, Dobbs AR.Reliability of the geriatric depression scale for younger adults.Clinical Gerontologist. 1990;9(2):37-43. doi:10.1300/J018v09n02_05Usefulness of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) for classifying minor and major depressive disorders among community-dwelling elders.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019;259:370-375. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.053Brañez-Condorena A, Soriano-Moreno DR, Navarro-Flores A, Solis-Chimoy B, Diaz-Barrera ME, Taype-Rondan A.Accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale (Gds)-4 and GDS-5 for the screening of depression among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLOS ONE. 2021;16(7):e0253899. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253899Jongenelis K, Pot AM, Eisses AM, et al.Diagnostic accuracy of the original 30-item and shortened versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale in nursing home patients.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20(11):1067-74. doi:10.1002/gps.1398Which of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia or the Geriatric Depression Scale is more useful to screen for depression in older adults?Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;72:103147. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103147Additional ReadingConradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-45. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231Greenberg SA.How to try this: the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form.Am J Nurs. 2007;107(10):60-9. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000292204.52313.f3

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Blazer DG.Depression in late life: Review and commentary.FOC. 2009;7(1):118-136. doi:10.1176/foc.7.1.foc118Lach HW, Chang YP, Edwards D.Can older adults with dementia accurately report depression using brief forms? Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale.J Gerontol Nurs. 2010;36(5):30-7. doi:10.3928/00989134-20100303-01Conradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-645. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231Rule BG, Harvey HZ, Dobbs AR.Reliability of the geriatric depression scale for younger adults.Clinical Gerontologist. 1990;9(2):37-43. doi:10.1300/J018v09n02_05Usefulness of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) for classifying minor and major depressive disorders among community-dwelling elders.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019;259:370-375. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.053Brañez-Condorena A, Soriano-Moreno DR, Navarro-Flores A, Solis-Chimoy B, Diaz-Barrera ME, Taype-Rondan A.Accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale (Gds)-4 and GDS-5 for the screening of depression among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLOS ONE. 2021;16(7):e0253899. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253899Jongenelis K, Pot AM, Eisses AM, et al.Diagnostic accuracy of the original 30-item and shortened versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale in nursing home patients.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20(11):1067-74. doi:10.1002/gps.1398Which of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia or the Geriatric Depression Scale is more useful to screen for depression in older adults?Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;72:103147. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103147Additional ReadingConradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-45. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231Greenberg SA.How to try this: the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form.Am J Nurs. 2007;107(10):60-9. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000292204.52313.f3

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Blazer DG.Depression in late life: Review and commentary.FOC. 2009;7(1):118-136. doi:10.1176/foc.7.1.foc118Lach HW, Chang YP, Edwards D.Can older adults with dementia accurately report depression using brief forms? Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale.J Gerontol Nurs. 2010;36(5):30-7. doi:10.3928/00989134-20100303-01Conradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-645. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231Rule BG, Harvey HZ, Dobbs AR.Reliability of the geriatric depression scale for younger adults.Clinical Gerontologist. 1990;9(2):37-43. doi:10.1300/J018v09n02_05Usefulness of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) for classifying minor and major depressive disorders among community-dwelling elders.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019;259:370-375. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.053Brañez-Condorena A, Soriano-Moreno DR, Navarro-Flores A, Solis-Chimoy B, Diaz-Barrera ME, Taype-Rondan A.Accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale (Gds)-4 and GDS-5 for the screening of depression among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLOS ONE. 2021;16(7):e0253899. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253899Jongenelis K, Pot AM, Eisses AM, et al.Diagnostic accuracy of the original 30-item and shortened versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale in nursing home patients.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20(11):1067-74. doi:10.1002/gps.1398Which of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia or the Geriatric Depression Scale is more useful to screen for depression in older adults?Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;72:103147. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103147

Blazer DG.Depression in late life: Review and commentary.FOC. 2009;7(1):118-136. doi:10.1176/foc.7.1.foc118

Lach HW, Chang YP, Edwards D.Can older adults with dementia accurately report depression using brief forms? Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale.J Gerontol Nurs. 2010;36(5):30-7. doi:10.3928/00989134-20100303-01

Conradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-645. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231

Rule BG, Harvey HZ, Dobbs AR.Reliability of the geriatric depression scale for younger adults.Clinical Gerontologist. 1990;9(2):37-43. doi:10.1300/J018v09n02_05

Usefulness of the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) for classifying minor and major depressive disorders among community-dwelling elders.Journal of Affective Disorders. 2019;259:370-375. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.053

Brañez-Condorena A, Soriano-Moreno DR, Navarro-Flores A, Solis-Chimoy B, Diaz-Barrera ME, Taype-Rondan A.Accuracy of the Geriatric Depression Scale (Gds)-4 and GDS-5 for the screening of depression among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLOS ONE. 2021;16(7):e0253899. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253899

Jongenelis K, Pot AM, Eisses AM, et al.Diagnostic accuracy of the original 30-item and shortened versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale in nursing home patients.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20(11):1067-74. doi:10.1002/gps.1398

Which of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia or the Geriatric Depression Scale is more useful to screen for depression in older adults?Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;72:103147. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103147

Conradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-45. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231Greenberg SA.How to try this: the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form.Am J Nurs. 2007;107(10):60-9. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000292204.52313.f3

Conradsson M, Rosendahl E, Littbrand H, Gustafson Y, Olofsson B, Lövheim H.Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item version among very old people with and without cognitive impairment.Aging Ment Health. 2013;17(5):638-45. doi:10.1080/13607863.2012.758231

Greenberg SA.How to try this: the Geriatric Depression Scale: Short Form.Am J Nurs. 2007;107(10):60-9. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000292204.52313.f3

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