Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a short depression screening tool, the Saint
Louis University (SLU) AMSAD depression scale, relative to the Geriatric Depression
Scale–15 (GDS-15) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and in relation
to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for major depressive disorder, in cognitively intact older adults.
Design
Cross-sectional.
Setting
Outpatient geriatric psychiatry clinic.
Participants
Fifty older adults (aged ≥65 years) without dementia.
Measurements
GDS-15, MADRS, SLU AMSAD, and DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder were administered.
Results
Total scores (continuous variables) for the GDS-15, MADRS, and SLU AMSAD correlated
significantly with the DMS-5 criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) [area under
the curve (AUC) ≥ 0.93, sensitivity = 0.93, and specificity ≥ 0.80]. Optimal cutoffs
were 9+ for GDS-15, 18+ for MADRS, and 7+ for SLU AMSAD. When score results were categorized
according to their known cutoffs for mild, moderate, and severe depression, AUC values
were again high (range = 0.82-0.89), with adequate levels of sensitivity (0.87-0.93)
and specificity (0.71-0.86), distinguishing no or mild depression from moderate or
severe depression in relation to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for MDD.
Conclusions and Implications
Strong diagnostic accuracy was shown for the 3 scales. The SLU AMSAD performed as
well as the GDS-15 and slightly better than the MADRS. The superiority of the SLU
AMSAD is supported by the fact that it encompasses only 5 simply worded, simply scaled
items to be used in busy clinical settings.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 05, 2019
Footnotes
R.K., B.C., J.C., J.R., and A.K. have no disclosures to report. Author G.G. is a consultant for Lundbeck and Acadia and is on the speaker's bureau for Acadia.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
