Geriatric Depression Scale

Aka: Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale Survey, Fifteen-Item Geriatric Depression Scale

1. See Also
   1. Five-Item Geriatric Depression Scale
   2. Geriatric Depression
2. Background
   1. Geriatric Depression screening tool
   2. Tool is currently in the public domain
   3. Intended for interviewer to ask the questions
3. Questions: Short Form (Positive answer in parentheses)
   1. Are you basically satisfied with your life? (No)
   2. Have you dropped many of your
      1. activities and interests? (Yes)
   3. Do you feel your life is empty? (Yes)
   4. Do you often get bored? (Yes)
   5. Are you in good spirits most of the time? (No)
   6. Are you afraid something bad
      1. is going to happen to you? (Yes)
   7. Do you feel happy most of the time? (Yes)
   8. Do you often feel helpless? (Yes)
   9. Do you prefer to stay at home,
      1. Rather than going out and doing new things? (Yes)
   10. Do you feel you have more problems
       1. with memory than most? (Yes)
   11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? (No)
   12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? (Yes)
   13. Do you feel full of energy? (No)
   14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? (Yes)
   15. Do you think most people are better off than you? (Yes)
4. Interpretation
   1. Normal: 0 to 4
   2. Mild depression: 5 to 8
   3. Moderate depression: 8 to 11
   4. Severe depression: 12 to 15
5. References
   1. Yesavage (1982) J Psychiatr Res 17:37-49
6. Resources
   1. Geriatric Depression Scale site
      1. http://www.stanford.edu/~yesavage/GDS.html