J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2023 Apr;27(1):23-29. 10.47825/jkgp.2023.27.1.23.

A Study on the Correlation Between Subjective and Objective Scales in the Evaluation of Depressive Symptoms for the Elderly

• Park CR
• Choo IH

• KMID: 2542289
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.47825/jkgp.2023.27.1.23

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between subjective and objective depression rating scale for the elderly with depressive symptoms.
Methods
Thirty three outpatients aged more than 55 with depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Similar items from each scale were paired to investigate their correlations. The level of agreement between the PHQ-9 and the MADRS was also assessed for subjects by using discrepancy-score.
Results
Correlation between total scores of the PHQ-9 and the MADRS was significant (r=0.85, p<0.001). There were signifi-cant correlations between the paired items except for the item about volition. These results were the same in the group whose total education years are 7 or more. However, in the group whose total education years are 6 or less, there was no significant corre-lation between the paired items about sleep, concentration and volition.
Conclusion
These results demonstrate that using the PHQ-9 in elderly patients is reliable and education level might be considered when interpreting the scale.

Keyword

Subjective; Objective; Scale; Elderly; Depression