Reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale in detection of poststroke minor depression.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) as a screening tool for minor depression in poststroke patients.


METHODS
Literate patients older than 18 years of age, diagnosed to have stroke, were eligible for the study. Standardized Mini Mental Status Examination (S-MMSE) and GDS were applied to all patients. The GDS was readministered 7 days later for retest reliability.


RESULTS
A total of 85 participants--49 nondepressed and 36 with minor depression--were eligible for the study. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .89 in internal consistency analysis. The GDS scores were significantly higher (p < .001) in the depressed participants reflecting a high discriminant validity. The highest sum of sensitivity and specificity values of 1.44 (sensitivity = .69, specificity = .75) and 1.45 (sensitivity = .66, specificity = .79) were obtained for cutoff scores of 10/11 and 11/12, respectively. The area under receiver operating characteristics curve was .82. The test-retest reliability analysis revealed a high Pearson correlation coefficient (r = .75).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the 30-item GDS has high discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability and reasonably useful cutoff scores; thus it can be used as a screening tool for minor depression in the poststroke population.
Sivrioglu
E Yusuf
EY
Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey. ysivri@uludag.edu.tr
Sivrioglu
Koncuy
K
Ertan
Turan
T
Ertan
F Sibel
FS
Cankurtaran
Eylem
E
Aki
Ozlem
O
Uluduz
Derya
D
Ince
Birsen
B
Kirli
Selcuk
S