J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2009 Jun;13(1):32-37.

Comparing Various Short-form Geriatric Depression Scales in Elderly Psychiatric Patients in Korea

• Lee SH
• Kang MH
• Kim CE
• Lee JS
• Bae JN
• Cho MJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic validity of the three published short Geriatric Depression Scales and to identify a valid and reliable alternative to the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-K) and short form Geriatric Depression Scales (SGDS-K).
METHODS
All subjects were registered elderly psychiatric patients who first visited the Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul between April 1996 and May 1999. The GDS-K, SGDS-K, Hoyl GDS-5, D'Ath GDS-4, van Marwijk GDS-4 were administered. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis performed to investigate the diagnostic validity of the Hoyl GDS-5, D'Ath GDS-4, and van Marwijk GDS-4.
RESULTS
The best trade-off between sensitivity and specificity was achieved with a Hoyl GDS-5 score of 3 (sensitivity:0.7258, specificity:0.7717), a D'Ath GDS-4 score of 3 (sensitivity:0.5968, specificity:0.7391), and a van Marwijk GDS-4 score of 3 (sensitivity:0.6613, specificity:0.7391). The area under the ROC curves of each diagnostic tool were calculated into the Hoyl GDS-5 of 0.8198, the D'Ath GDS-4 of 0.7525, and the van Marwijk GDS-4 of 0.7528.
CONCLUSION
The Hoyl GDS-5 may be utilized in screening for major depression among the elderly psychiatric patients in Korea.

Keyword

The Hoyl GDS-5; The D'Ath GDS-4; The van Marwijk GDS-4; Korean elderly; Major depression

MeSH Terms

Aged
Depression
Geriatric Psychiatry
Humans
Korea
Mass Screening
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Weights and Measures