title: [Assessment of presence and degree of depression in elderly, chronic ill patients: application selected scales advantages and disadvantages of this method of diagnosis].
abstract: The aim of our study was to assess diagnostic worth of 3 popular scale of depression in the group of elderly, chronic ill patients, treated in internal hospitals. 3 scales were used: Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results were compared to assessment of presence and degree of depression according to ICD-10. The sample consisted of 30 elderly ill patients who were admitted in Internal Institute Medical University in Gdansk. There were 15 women and 15 men, the mean age: 72.8+/-7.02 years. We assessed agreement of diagnosis between 3 psychometric methods in comparison with results after standard psychiatric examination. Specifities of HDRS and BDI were low: 66%. Correlation coefficients between scales were high 0.74-0.87. But only compared to BDI and GDS there were no significant differences between distribution of patients in each group of depression intensity measured chi2 test. In case of HDRS there was significant difference which was an effect of false positive results. Our results showed small usefulness of HDRS in this group of patients. Scales of depression are useful in 2 important conditions: I. Scale should not replace full psychiatric examination. II. Proper scale for age and somatic state should be applied.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Chorób Psychicznych i Zaburzeń Nerwicowych Katedry Chorób Psychicznych Akademii Medycznej w Gdańsku.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wichowicz
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumiła
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stolcman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires