Assessing the Need for Standardized Depression Screening in Geriatric Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study

Purpose A pilot study to determine the significance of depression screening in the geriatric acute inpatient rehabilitation population. Design A pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design followed by a test-retest of two pilot studies using a convenience sample of patients aged 65 years or older admitted to a 41-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility from February 8, 2017, to February 28, 2017, and from September 7, 2018, to November 7, 2018. Methods Eighty-nine patients were assessed using the widely accepted 15 item Geriatric Depression Score (GDS). Comparisons of the total positive screens to the proportion expected were made using a binomial analysis. The reliability of the results was examined using chi square analysis. Results Around 1/3 of screenings were suggestive of depression. Conclusion The rehabilitation population aged ≥ 65 years is at risk for depression. Standardized depression screening can help identify those at risk, affecting possible treatment and monitoring. Clinical Relevance: Encouragement of clinical consideration of depression prevalence and utilization of early depression screening in the rehabilitation population.