Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale in detection of poststroke minor depression


SİVRİOĞLU E. Y., SİVRİOĞLU K., Ertan T., Ertan F. S., Cankurtaran E., Aki O., ...More

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, vol.31, no.8, pp.999-1006, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 31 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13803390902776878
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.999-1006
  • Keywords: Depression, Geriatric Depression Scale, Poststroke depression, Stroke, Reliability, Validity, Minor depression, CEREBROVASCULAR-DISEASE, PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION, STROKE PATIENTS, RISK-FACTORS, DIAGNOSIS, RECOVERY, SYMPTOMS
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) as a screening tool for minor depression in poststroke patients. Method: Literate patients older than 18 years of age, diagnosed to have stroke, were eligible for the study. Standardized Mini Mental Status Examination (S-MMSE) and GDS were applied to all patients. The GDS was readministered 7 days later for retest reliability. Results: A total of 85 participants-49 nondepressed and 36 with minor depression-were eligible for the study. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .89 in internal consistency analysis. The GDS scores were significantly higher (p < .001) in the depressed participants reflecting a high discriminant validity. The highest sum of sensitivity and specificity values of 1.44 (sensitivity = .69, specificity = .75) and 1.45 (sensitivity = .66, specificity = .79) were obtained for cutoff scores of 10/11 and 11/12, respectively. The area under receiver operating characteristics curve was .82. The test-retest reliability analysis revealed a high Pearson correlation coefficient (r = .75). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the 30-item GDS has high discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability and reasonably useful cutoff scores; thus it can be used as a screening tool for minor depression in the poststroke population.