title: Screening a skilled nursing home population for depression.
abstract: The population resident in the skilled nursing home of a Veterans Administration Hospital on the 27th of June 1988 was screened for the presence of depression. Only 74% of the patients (59 of 80) were able to complete most of the screening battery: the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Scale. Thirty-four percent of the sample (20 of 59) met the criteria for a DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis; 22% (13 patients) had a major depressive disorder, and 12% (seven patients) had an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. The 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale was more effective than the Hamilton Depression Scale as a screening instrument in this population of frail elderly veterans who had multiple and severe medical problems (end-stage cardiac disease, progressive myasthenia gravis, terminal pulmonary disease, and multiple cerebrovascular accidents) that limited verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as physical endurance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010556:Personality Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D013781:Texas; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*