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Experience with a Swedish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale in primary care centres
Author(s) -
Gottfries G. G.,
Noltorp Sven,
Nørgaard Niels
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(199710)12:10<1029::aid-gps683>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - geriatric depression scale , depression (economics) , primary care , medicine , elderly people , gerontology , geriatrics , scale (ratio) , elderly care , psychiatry , family medicine , depressive symptoms , nursing , anxiety , physics , quantum mechanics , economics , macroeconomics
Objective . The purpose of this study was to use a Swedish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐20) for diagnosis of depression in the elderly in primary care. Design . Elderly consecutive patients visiting two primary care centres (⩾65 years of age; N = 1189) were rated by educated nurses using the GDS‐20. Setting . All elderly patients attending two primary care centres in an urban‐based community in the south of Sweden. Patients . Of the 1189 patients interviewed, 1002 were rated using the GDS‐20. Measures . The GDS‐20, and in 26 patients also the Geriatric Mental State Schedule—Depression Scale (GMSS‐DS). Results . Of 1002 rated patients, 93 had scores of 5 or above on the GDS‐20. Further analysis showed that 158 (13.3%) suffered from affective disorders. Conclusion . Depression in the elderly is underdiagnosed in primary care centres. A screening instrument such as the GDS‐20 is of value in identifying the patients. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.