Cornell scale for depression in dementia: study of residents in a northern thai long-term care home.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to analyse the validity of the Thai version of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) when using DSM-IV criteria.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out of 84 elderly residents in a residential care home setting in Thailand. The participants went through a comprehensive geriatric assessment which included a Mini-Mental State Examination, a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and use of the CSDD tool. A ROC analysis was performed in order to test the validity of the CSDD as against the DSM-IV when used by the MINI.


RESULTS
ROC analysis revealed a better score for those areas found under the curve for the CSDD-as against the DSM-IV criteria (0.96). With a cut-off score of >6, the CSDD yielded the highest sensitivity score (100%), plus produced a specificity of 81% and a negative predictive value of 100%. It also had a positive predictive value of 69%. The validity of the CSDD was found to be better for the group experiencing cognitive impairment than with the non-cognitive impairment group in terms of the agreement of CSDD items between patients and caregivers. The CSDD yielded a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.87).


CONCLUSIONS
CSDD is a valid tool to use for identifying depressive disorders among Thai LTC home residents - those experiencing and those not experiencing cognitive impairment.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Muang Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Nahathai
N
Wongpakaran
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Muang Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Tinakon
T
Wongpakaran
Thai; The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD); Validity