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Validation of the Retardation Rating Scale for detecting depression in geriatric inpatients
Author(s) -
BoninGuillaume Sylvie,
Sautel Laeticia,
Demattei Christophe,
Jouve Elisabeth,
Blin Olivier
Publication year - 2007
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/gps.1657
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , rating scale , depression (economics) , psychology , convergent validity , geriatric depression scale , construct validity , psychometrics , dementia , receiver operating characteristic , psychiatry , clinical psychology , cognition , internal consistency , medicine , disease , developmental psychology , depressive symptoms , economics , macroeconomics
Objectives Validation in the elderly of the Retardation Rating Scale (RRS), which includes items related to motor and mental retardation but not vegetative items, and may be particularly well‐suited for the diagnosis of depression in the elderly. Methods One hundred and sixty‐five geriatric inpatients (105 depressed), aged 65 and over, without dementia, neuroleptic medication and increased risk of slowed mobility, were assessed with the RRS and three validated ‘gold‐standard’ scales for geriatric depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale). Factor analysis used varimax rotation, Cronbach's, Spearman's and Ferguson's coefficients and the Mann–Whitney U‐test to evaluate construct and internal consistency. Convergent validity and Receiver Operating Characteristics curves were also analyzed. Results Factor analysis retained three interpretable domains: (1) motor items (45% of the variance); (2) mental items and (3) the cognitive items. Internal consistency was high (α = 0.91). Each item was strongly correlated with the total RRS score and associated with depression. The RRS showed good convergent validity and its total score increased with depression severity. A cut‐off score of 10 yielded 79% sensitivity and 80% specificity, with 80% of the patients properly classified, that is 15% more than standard observer scales. Conclusion RRS is a valid screening tool for depression and improves recognition of depression in geriatric inpatients. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.