Protocol - Depressive Symptoms - Geriatric

Description

An interviewer- or self-administered questionnaire of 15 yes/no questions to screen for depression in older adults.

Specific Instructions

These questions may be part of a self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaire.

However, several studies have indicated different results between interviewer and self-report administrations within the same samples. Therefore, caution should be used in comparison to previously published samples. It may be advisable, such as in epidemiologic studies, to employ a two-step procedure combining self-report with follow-up interview-based administration.

Answers in bold indicate depression. Score 1 point for each bolded answer. A score greater than 5 points is suggestive of depression and should warrant a follow-up comprehensive assessment. A score greater than or equal to 10 points is almost always indicative of clinically significant depression.

Prorating Scores (What to do if a patient misses a couple items).

If, say, 3 of 15 items are missed, and the total score is 4 on the 12 completed items, add 4/12 of the 3 missing points (i.e., 1 point) to the score. The total score would be 4+1 = 5.

In other words, we are solving the equation 4/12 = X/15, so X = 5.

Availability

Available

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Protocol

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

Personnel and Training Required

The interviewer must be trained to conduct personal interviews with individuals from the general population. The interviewer must be trained and found to be competent (i.e., tested by an expert) at the completion of personal interviews. The interviewer should be trained to prompt respondents further if a "dont know" response is provided.

Equipment Needs

The PhenX Working Group acknowledges that these questions can be administered in a computerized or noncomputerized format (i.e., paper-and-pencil instrument). Computer software is necessary to develop computer-assisted instruments. The interviewer will require a laptop computer/handheld computer to administer a computer-assisted questionnaire.

Requirements

Requirement Category	Required
Major equipment	No
Specialized training	No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection	No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual	No

Mode of Administration

Self-administered questionnaire

Lifestage

Senior

Participants

Older adults with dementia

Selection Rationale

The Geriatric Depression Scale is a validated, widely distributed, and easy-to-complete questionnaire that can be finished in approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Language

English, Other languages available at source

Standards

Standard	Name	ID	Source
Human Phenotype Ontology	Depression	HP:0000716	HPO
caDSR Form	PhenX PX121704 - Depressive Symptoms - Geriatric	6912096	caDSR Form

Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) - Short Form

Source

Geriatric Depression Scale, https://web.stanford.edu/~yesavage/GDS.html

Brink, T. L., Yesavage, J. A., Lum, O., Heersema, P., Adey, M. B., & Rose, T. L. (1982). Screening tests for geriatric depression. Clinical Gerontologist, 1, 37-44.

General References

Sheikh, J. I., Yesavage, J. A. (1986). Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontology: A Guide to Assessment and Intervention165-173, NY: The Haworth Press, 1986.

Sheikh, J. I., Yesavage, J. A., Brooks, J. O., III, Friedman, L. F., Gratzinger, P., Hill, R. D., ... Crook, T. (1991). Proposed factor structure of the Geriatric Depression Scale. International Psychogeriatrics, 3, 23-28.

Yesavage, J. A., Brink, T. L., Rose, T. L., Lum, O., Huang, V., Adey, M. B., & Leirer, V. O. (1983). Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17, 37-49.

Protocol ID

121704

Variables

Export Variables

Variable Name	Variable ID	Variable Description	dbGaP Mapping
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Activities
	PX121704020000	Have you dropped many of your activities and more interests? show less	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Afraid
	PX121704060000	Are you afraid that something bad is going more to happen to you? show less	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Bored
	PX121704040000	Do you often get bored?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Comparison
	PX121704150000	Do you think that most people are better off more than you are? show less	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Energy
	PX121704130000	Do you feel full of energy?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Feel_Empty
	PX121704030000	Do you feel that your life is empty?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Good_Spirits
	PX121704050000	Are you in good spirits most of the time?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Happy
	PX121704070000	Do you feel happy most of the time?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Helpless
	PX121704080000	Do you often feel helpless?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Hopeless
	PX121704140000	Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Memory_Problems
	PX121704100000	Do you feel you have more problems with more memory than most? show less	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Satisfaction_Life
	PX121704010000	Are you basically satisfied with your life?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Social_Life
	PX121704090000	Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than more going out and doing new things? show less	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Wonderful
	PX121704110000	Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?	N/A
PX121704_Depressive_Symptoms_Geriatrics_Worthless
	PX121704120000	Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?	N/A

Psychiatric

Measure Name

Depression Symptoms

Release Date

July 2, 2018

Definition

A self-report questionnaire to assess symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Purpose

This measure can be used to rapidly assess depressive symptoms and select cases and non-cases. Depression is a common disorder that demonstrates a familial pattern and is comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, substance use disorders, and eating disorders. Additionally, certain medical conditions-such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease-can increase the risk of depression. Some individuals who present with major depressive episodes may have a bipolar spectrum disorder.

Keywords

Psychiatric, depression, bipolar disorder, gerontology, aging, geriatrics

Measure Protocols

Protocol ID	Protocol Name
121701	Depressive Symptoms - Adult
121702	Depressive Symptoms - Child
121703	Depressive Symptoms - Depression in Dementia
121704	Depressive Symptoms - Geriatric

Publications

There are no publications listed for this protocol.