title: Validation of the Retardation Rating Scale for detecting depression in geriatric inpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Validation in the elderly of the Retardation Rating Scale (RRS), which includes items related to motor and mental retardation but not vegetative items, and may be particularly well-suited for the diagnosis of depression in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-five geriatric inpatients (105 depressed), aged 65 and over, without dementia, neuroleptic medication and increased risk of slowed mobility, were assessed with the RRS and three validated 'gold-standard' scales for geriatric depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale). Factor analysis used varimax rotation, Cronbach's, Spearman's and Ferguson's coefficients and the Mann-Whitney U-test to evaluate construct and internal consistency. Convergent validity and Receiver Operating Characteristics curves were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis retained three interpretable domains: (1) motor items (45% of the variance); (2) mental items and (3) the cognitive items. Internal consistency was high (alpha = 0.91). Each item was strongly correlated with the total RRS score and associated with depression. The RRS showed good convergent validity and its total score increased with depression severity. A cut-off score of 10 yielded 79% sensitivity and 80% specificity, with 80% of the patients properly classified, that is 15% more than standard observer scales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RRS is a valid screening tool for depression and improves recognition of depression in geriatric inpatients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne et Gériatrie, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Nord, 13915 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonin-Guillaume
authors.forename: Laeticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sautel
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demattei
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jouve
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology