Older age (>60 years) was not associated with higher total depression scores compared to younger age, though older adults reported more somatic complaints on the BDI.
Cross-Sectional
Does age or sex affect the reporting of depression symptoms on self-report scales like BDI, MMPI-2, and GDS?
Depression scales that include somatic items may artificially inflate depression scores in older adults due to physical complaints, making scales like the GDS more appropriate for this population.
Depressive symptomatology has been reported to be most prevalent over the age of 65. This study examined the effects of age (young less than or equal to 60 years, old greater than 60 years) and sex on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), MMPI Scale 2 (Depression), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Responses to somatic versus psychological complaints on the BDI were examined separately, and the physical malfunctioning subscale (D3) of the MMPI-2 was also evaluated. No age effects were found on any of the depression scales' total scores. On the BDI, the older group reported more somatic complaints than the younger group. Psychological complaints were reported equally for young and old groups. Women reported more depressed items on the MMPI-2 and reported a greater number of symptoms of physical malfunctioning (D3) than men for both age groups. No age by sex interaction reached significance. A report of greater physical malfunctioning (D3) was significantly associated with higher scores on all the depression scales. The increased prevalence of somatic complaints on self-report depression scales probably results in higher scores, which are misinterpreted as representing more depression in the elderly population. It is recommended that a depression scale such as the GDS, which excludes somatic items, be used to assess depression in older adults.
Bolla‐Wilson et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression. Older age (>60 years) vs. Younger age (≤60 years) was evaluated on Total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), MMPI Scale 2 (Depression), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Older age (>60 years) was not associated with higher total depression scores compared to younger age, though older adults reported more somatic complaints on the BDI.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: