A 5-item subset of the CES-Depression scale showed acceptable reliability (Cronbach alpha 0.76) and high correlation (0.91) with the full 20-item scale for identifying depression.
Cross-Sectional
Does a 5-item subset of the CES-D scale provide reliable and valid screening for depression compared to the full 20-item scale in outpatients with chronic disease?
A 5-item subset of the CES-D scale is a reliable and valid tool for depression screening in chronic disease outpatients, potentially reducing patient and clinician burden.
Effect estimate: correlation of 0.91
Individuals with chronic disease are not screened routinely for depression. Availability of an abbreviated test with demonstrated reliability and validity might encourage screening so we explored the reliability and validity of a 5-item subset of the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale among inner-city outpatients with chronic asthma or diabetes. Most patients were female (73.1%) and Hispanic (61.8%). Acceptable reliability was shown by Cronbach alpha (.76) for the subset of 5 items. Validity was supported by the high correlation of .91 between patients' scores on the 5-item subset and the full 20 items. The 5 items reflected a single factor (eigenvalue = 2.66). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified cut-points for the 5 items that were sensitive (> .84) and specific (> or = .80) in identifying patients classified as depressed by full 20 items. The reduced patient and clinician burden of the subset of 5 items, as well as its desirable psychometric properties, support broader application of this subset as a screening tool for depression.
Bohannon et al. (2003) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic asthma or diabetes. 5-item subset of the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale vs. Full 20-item CES-Depression Scale was evaluated on Reliability (Cronbach alpha) and validity (correlation with full 20 items) (correlation of 0.91). A 5-item subset of the CES-Depression scale showed acceptable reliability (Cronbach alpha 0.76) and high correlation (0.91) with the full 20-item scale for identifying depression.