GDS and GDS-S (Geriatric Depression Scale and GDS Short Form)

Type of Tool: Screening
Repeatability: Repeatable by Clinician’s Judgment
Description: The Geriatric Depression Scale was developed as a basic screening measure for depression in older adults. The GDS may be used with healthy, medically ill and mild to moderately cognitively impaired older adults. It has been extensively used in community, acute and long-term care settings.

Download GDS Scale/Measure
Download GDS-S Scale/Measure

*Brink, T. L., Yesavage, J. A., Lum, O., Heersema, P., Adey, M. B., & Rose, T.L. (1982). Screening tests for geriatric depression. Clinical Gerontologist:  1, 37-44.

*Yesavage, J.A., Brink, T. L., Rose, T. L., Lum, O., Huang, V., Adey, M. B., & Leirer, V. O. (1983). Development and validation of a Geriatric Depression Screening Scale: A preliminary report. Journal of Psychiatric Research: 17, 37-49.

*Sheikh, J. I., & Yesavage, J. A. (1986). Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version. Clinical Gerontology : A Guide to Assessment and Intervention (pp. 165-173). NY: The Haworth Press.

PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire)

Type of Tool: Diagnostic
Repeatability: Repeatable by Clinician’s Judgment
Description: The PHQ-9 is a depression module that scores each of the 9 DSM-IV criteria for depression.

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*Developed by Drs. Robert L. Spitzer, Janet B. W. Williams, Kurt Kroenke and colleagues, with an educational grant from Pfizer Inc. Copyright © 2005 Pfizer, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. http://www.phqscreeners.com/