Objective: to validate the short form (4 questions) of the geriatric depression scale in elderly adult patients. Material and method: the study was performed from September 2002 to June 2003. We included 400 patients aged 60 and older in the geriatrics outpatient clinic of the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. The participants were not receiving antidepressant therapy and had no evidence of cognitive deterioration. The tests applied were the DSM-IV (gold standard), the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) and the 4-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-4).  Results: the average age was 70,85 years (range 60-98 years); 66,25% were women. 17,3% had depression according to DSM - IV, 11,8% according to GDS - 15 and 34,3% according to GDS-4. The sensitivity of the GDS-15 was 49%; specificity 96%, negative predictive value 90% and positive predictive value 72%. The sensitivity of ...

Objective: to validate the short form (4 questions) of the geriatric depression scale in elderly adult patients. Material and method: the study was performed from September 2002 to June 2003. We included 400 patients aged 60 and older in the geriatrics outpatient clinic of the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. The participants were not receiving antidepressant therapy and had no evidence of cognitive deterioration. The tests applied were the DSM-IV (gold standard), the 15-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-15) and the 4-item geriatric depression scale (GDS-4).  Results: the average age was 70,85 years (range 60-98 years); 66,25% were women. 17,3% had depression according to DSM - IV, 11,8% according to GDS - 15 and 34,3% according to GDS-4. The sensitivity of the GDS-15 was 49%; specificity 96%, negative predictive value 90% and positive predictive value 72%. The sensitivity of ...