Geriatric depression scale
A 30 item self report or assignment that is used to identify depression in elderly person is known as the geriatric depression scale. These items in the report are basically questions that are used to determine the mental state of a person, basically these questions are answered either yes or no. this response of the person gives us the idea of mental state of the elder person. These are basically a five category response set that are made accordingly to judge a person. These are the routine part of the regular scoring and assignment grid. There are marginal scores that are given that decide the threshold of the points that distinguish between a mentally depressed and mentally stable person. But a diagnosis on the mental state of the patient is not made only on the basis of the GDS report only there are other parameters too. There are proper validity and other studies that have been done in this test and these have proved the benefit of this test. There are other form of diagnosis that are done these are short and comprehensive forms of GDS. These basically contain 15 questions and are similar to the GDS. This test and the original GDS are available in many languages other than English.
Purpose of the GDS
Depression is one stage that is really becoming serious among people; the numbers of patients are increasing day by day. This condition is there in one patient out of six who are in hospital. The suicide rate in any age group is constantly increasing; this is also becoming a common problem that is needed to be cut down in people who are going in the stages of depression. The problem of depression came to light in the year 1982-83 and this year the GDS scale was invented. The graduated responses are less effective than the yes or no responses in the GDS scale. There are some other graduated responses that are made to judge the mental state of a person these are the Hamilton rating scale or the Zung self rating depression scale.
GDS is widely used all over the world including the U.S, these are widely recommended too for the depression check around the globe.
Precautions:
These depression scales are judged by the person itself or even a doctor can also administer the depression measure through GDS. A self assessment process is simpler and even easier, this is easy to use and also handy as you don’t have to consult and go to the doctor. These tests are also very sensitive test so it is also advisable to judge the best possible way.
There is no specific way to get the best diagnosis possible, since GDS came to light it has been questioned whether GDS is apt to suit the needs that are required to check depression. There have been several studies that have
Proved the results of GDS are best suited are fine when it comes to judging the mental condition of a person. Several studies have been done that shows the ratings of GDS quite similar to the medical scales of the person. But there are cases where person with dementia refuse to show or won’t show any symptom of depression thus they do not affect the ratings that5 are given in the GDS test.
The basic use of GDS is that it can be easily applied to general medical observations and even the medical treatments given for such tests are available.
While anyone tries to check the extent of depression of a person he should check whether the person is really suffering from depression or not, the dimensions and symptoms should be properly taken to account while deciding on it. Test such as GDS can really tell you about the extent till which a person I depressed and even if the person is really depressed or not. They can make a satisfactory result about the study they have done on any person.
Description of the test:
There were seven common characteristics of depression that were made by Yesavitch and his co workers, these are:
1.the somatic concerns of the person
2.the lowered emotional affect and state
3.the cognitive impairment in a person
4.the discrimination feeling
5.low self esteem
6.no future thought and low orientation
7.low on motivational level
The 30 best items got selected out of the 100 items given. This was applied to 46 depressed elderly people and normal persons. The test showed a sensitiveness of 84% and the specific ness of 95%.
These studies are repeated again to verify the extent of correctness in GDS.
There are few questions in GDS like for example:
1)Are you satisfied with your life?
2)Are you hopeful about what the future holds for you?
3)Do you get upset over things frequently?
These are certain types of questions that are asked in GDS.
Results:
There are certain set of points that are given to the person whose depression state is to be monitored. One point is given for each response that matches the grid. If elderly person scores in negative the response is negative, a score of 0-9 is for the normal person, while the score of 10-19 reflects normal depression state. But if the score is above 20 then this is the stage of danger and the person needs proper medical treatment.