Objective: The "Geriatric Depression Scale" consisting of 15 items (GDS-15) is a well-known screening tool for depression among the elderly. Until now the criterion validity of the German language GDS-15 was not investigated in a sample of the adult general population.
Methods: 504 persons of the Austrian general population completed the GDS-15. Using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) ICD-10 diagnoses were established. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis was conducted. Possible gender and age differences were explored.
Results: The overall discrimination of the GDS-15 was sufficient (ROC-AUC 0,851). The cut-off value developed on the basis of our sample was 2/3 with a sensitivity of 71.8 % und a specificity of 82.8 %. We could not find significant gender or age group differences.
Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the criterion validity of the German language GDS-15 in the adult general population. The sensitivity and specificity are sufficient and comparable with the findings among other screening tools.
Ziel der studie: Bisher liegen keine Studien zur Kriteriumsvalidität der GDS-15 in der deutschsprachigen Allgemeinbevölkerung vor.
Methodik: Bei 504 Personen wurde die GDS-15 den psychiatrischen ICD-Diagnosen basierend auf einem SCAN-Interview gegenübergestellt.
Ergebnisse: Die Diskrimination über alle Cut-offs betrug 0,851 (Receiver Operating Characteristics). Bei einem Cut-off von 2/3 fanden wir eine Sensitivität von 71,8 % und eine Spezifität von 82,4 %.
Schlussfolgerung: Die GDS-15 zeigt eine zufriedenstellende Kriteriumsvalidität für beide Geschlechter und verschiedene Altersgruppen.
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.