Staff ratings of elderly at day care centers: mental status, hypochondriasis, depression

Staff at two day care centers for the frail and/or impaired elderly rated participants (N = 33) for mental status, hypochondriasis and depression. The ratings were correlated with the MSQ, HSIG and GDS. The results indicated a significant correlation (P less than .001) between staff ratings and the MSQ. The correlations between other staff ratings and the respective tests were quite low. It was concluded that staff ratings for depression and hypochondriasis were not valid or reliable unless the staff member had done a structured intake.