title: [Diagnosis of depression in the elderly. The "Geriatric Depression Scale"].
abstract: Psychiatric diseases are very common among elderly people. Depressions rank before dementias in this age group. 2-2.5 million people aged over 65 years are suffering from symptoms of depression in Germany. Patients with Mayor Depression Disease (MDD) have a poor prognosis. MDD should therefore be recognized and treated in community dwelling elderly, in nursing homes and in hospitals. Underdiagnosis of MDD is well documented in the medical literature. Only a quarter of patients with a MDD are detected. By a short screening test for depression such as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) depressed patients can be identified. With a sensitivity and specificity of about 70%. The time needed to perform the short form of the GDS is only 5-7 min. The GDS is an important part of many assessment programs in England and USA. It is also recommended in Germany by the "Geriatric Assessment" working group.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrisches Zentrum Bethanien Klinikum, Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikolaus
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oster
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schlierf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
vernacular_title: Depressionsdiagnostik im Alter. Die "Geriatric Depression Scale".