GDS-15
ValidatedGeriatric Depression Scale – Short Form (GDS-15)
Older adults (65+)Self~5 min15 questions
Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week:
Report details · optional
Shown on the report and stored with the screening record. Use initials or a code, not full names.
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About this screener — evidence, source
A 15-item yes/no screen for depression in older people, taken from the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale. It deliberately avoids physical symptoms (sleep, appetite, energy loss from illness) that are common in later life for non-depressive reasons, and the simple format suits people with mild cognitive impairment. Each depressive answer scores 1 (0–15).
Evidence · validated
In a meta-analysis of 10 primary-care studies, the GDS-15 had a pooled sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 78.4% for depression and was rated 'good' for screening (Mitchell et al., J Affect Disord 2010;125:10–17). Cut-offs above are those given on the authors' official scoring page; optimal thresholds vary across studies.
Source & licence
Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontologist. 1986;5(1/2):165–173. Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, et al. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res. 1983;17(1):37–49.
Licence: Public domain — the authors' Stanford page states the scale is in the public domain, being partly the result of U.S. Federal support.
Official source ↗