The Zung SDS and Popoff ID correctly identified 74% (sensitivity 58%, specificity 87%) and 66% (sensitivity 88%, specificity 52%) of geriatric medical inpatients as depressed or nondepressed.
Cross-Sectional (n=42)
Single-blind
Are the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale and Popoff Index of Depression valid for detecting depression in hospitalized geriatric medical patients compared to psychiatric interview?
The Zung Self-rating Depression Scale and Popoff Index of Depression are useful aids for detecting depression in geriatric medical inpatients, though with reduced performance compared to younger populations.
As part of an effort to improve the detection of depression in geriatric hospitalized medical patients, the validity of two self-rating depression scales, the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and the Popoff Index of Depression (ID), was evaluated. These two scales were completed by 42 medical inpatients whose mean age was 68 years. A psychiatrist who was "blind" to scale results interviewed each patient and diagnosed the presence or absence of depression according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III (DSM-III) criteria for Major Depressive Episode. On both the SDS and the ID, there was significant agreement between the scale results and the interview diagnosis. Compared with the interview diagnosis, the SDS had a sensitivity of 58 per cent and a specificity of 87 per cent, and it correctly identified 74 per cent of the patients as being either depressed or nondepressed. The ID had a sensitivity of 88 per cent and a specificity of 52 per cent, and it correctly identified 66 per cent of the patients. Although performance on both scales is reduced compared with that of younger depressed patients, these self-rating scales appear to be useful aids for the detection of depression in geriatric medical patients.
Kitchell et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression (n=42). Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Popoff Index of Depression (ID) vs. Psychiatric interview (DSM-III criteria) was evaluated on Diagnostic validity (sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy) for Major Depressive Episode. The Zung SDS and Popoff ID correctly identified 74% (sensitivity 58%, specificity 87%) and 66% (sensitivity 88%, specificity 52%) of geriatric medical inpatients as depressed or nondepressed.