Methodological note on use of the Center for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale with older samples

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Psychological Assessment
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The Center for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) is a widely used tool for assessing depressive symptoms.
• Accurate measurement of depression in older adults is crucial for timely intervention and care.
• Mode of administration can potentially influence survey responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare depression scores in older adults assessed via telephone versus face-to-face interviews.
• To investigate potential differences in Center for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) scores based on administration method.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from three samples of older adults (N=600, 251, 214).
• Administration of the Center for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) through telephone surveys and face-to-face interviews.
• Comparison of composite scores between the two administration groups.

Main Results:

• Telephone-administered CES-D scores were significantly lower than those from face-to-face interviews across all samples.
• This finding indicates a potential underestimation of depressive symptoms when using telephone surveys in this population.

Conclusions:

• The method of administering the Center for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) impacts reported depression scores in older adults.
• Telephone surveys may not be as sensitive in detecting depressive symptoms in geriatric populations compared to in-person assessments.
• Future research should consider administration mode when interpreting CES-D results for older adults.