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Screening for depression in low‐vision elderly
Author(s) -
Rovner Barry W.,
ShmuelyDulitzki Yochi
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199709)12:9<955::aid-gps672>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - geriatric depression scale , depression (economics) , checklist , psychology , low vision , depressive symptoms , visual impairment , psychiatry , medicine , gerontology , optometry , anxiety , economics , cognitive psychology , macroeconomics
Objective . To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in older low‐vision patients, and to compare GDS scores with the diagnosis of major depression in statistical models examining the interrelationships of vision, depression and disability. Design . Cross‐sectional survey. Participants . Community‐residing older persons attending the low‐vision clinic of Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Measurements . Geriatric Depression Scale, DSM‐III‐R Checklist for Depression, Community Disability Scale and Snellen Visual Acuity. Results . The sensitivity and specificity of the GDS (GDS = 11) were 63% and 77%, respectively. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the GDS's ability to discriminate patients with and without major depression was no better than chance. Although the GDS was limited as a screen for major depression, it was useful in statistical models examining the interrelationships of vision, depression and disability. Conclusion . Depressive symptoms are common among elderly patients with impaired vision attending a low‐vision clinic. Although the GDS is unable to discriminate patients with and without major depression in this population, it is valuable as a continuous measure of depressive symptomatology to examine the interrelationships of vision, depression and disability. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.