Screening for depression in hospitalised and community‐dwelling elderly: the use of the 4‐item, 5‐item and 15‐item geriatric depression scales

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in hospitalised and community‐dwelling elderly with and without cognitive impairment and to test the reliability of the four‐ and five‐item geriatric depression scale (GDS) against the 15‐item GDS in screening for depression. Methods: The four‐, five‐ and 15‐item GDS and the abbreviated mental state test were administered to 96 inpatients and 107 community elderly. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 42.7% in the inpatient group and 53.3% in the community group. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 39.6% in the inpatients and 37.7% in the community group. The GDS5 had 88.8% sensitivity and 74.3% specificity and the GDS4 had 83.7% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity using the GDS15 as standard. Both were well correlated with the GDS15. Conclusion: The GDS5 and GDS4 are quick, simple and useful initial screening tools for depression.