Geriatric Depression Scale

Depression is not a natural part of aging. Depression is often reversible with prompt recognition and appropriate treatment. However, if left
untreated, depression may result in the onset of physical, cognitive, functional, and social impairment, as well as decreased quality of life, delayed
recovery from medical illness and surgery, increased health care utilization, and suicide.

Depression is common in late life, affecting nearly 5 million of the 31 million Americans aged 65 and older with clinically significant
depressive symptoms reaching 13% in older adults aged 80 and older (Blazer, 2009). Major depression is reported in 5-16% of community dwelling
older adults, up to 54% in the first year living in a nursing home, and 10-12% of hospitalized older adults (Blazer, 2009; McKenzie & Harvath, 2016).
Depression is more common in those with multiple chronic conditions.

The GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been
extensively used in community, acute care, and long-term care settings.

The GDS was found to have a 92% sensitivity and an 89% specificity when evaluated against diagnostic criteria.
The validity and reliability of the tool have been supported through both clinical practice and research. In a validation study comparing the Long and
Short Forms of the GDS for self-rating of symptoms of depression, both were successful in differentiating depressed from non-depressed adults
with a high correlation

The GDS is not a substitute for a diagnostic interview by mental health professionals. It is a useful
screening tool in the clinical setting to facilitate assessment of depression in older adults especially when baseline measurements are compared to
subsequent scores. It does not assess for suicidality