Screening for depression in low-vision elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in older low-vision patients, and to compare GDS scores with the diagnosis of major depression in statistical models examining the interrelationships of vision, depression and disability.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Community-residing older persons attending the low-vision clinic of Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.


METHODS
Geriatric Depression Scale, DSM-III-R Checklist for Depression, Community Disability Scale and Snellen Visual Acuity.


RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of the GDS (GDS = 11) were 63% and 77%, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the GDS's ability to discriminate patients with and without major depression was no better than chance. Although the GDS was limited as a screen for major depression, it was useful in statistical models examining the interrelationships of vision, depression and disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms are common among elderly patients with impaired vision attending a low-vision clinic. Although the GDS is unable to discriminate patients with and without major depression in this population, it is valuable as a continuous measure of depressive symptomatology to examine the interrelationships of vision, depression and disability.
Rovner
B W
BW
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Shmuely-Dulitzki
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*