Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Screening a skilled nursing home population for depression.

F M Baker1, C L Miller

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
|October 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

The Geriatric Depression Scale effectively screened depression in frail elderly veterans with severe medical issues. This 15-item scale proved more useful than the Hamilton Depression Scale for this population.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparison of perometry-based volumetric arm measurements and bioimpedance spectroscopy for early identification of lymphedema in a prospectively-screened cohort of breast cancer patients.

Lymphology·2021
Same author

"Prostate cancer is far more hidden…": Perceptions of stigma, social isolation and help-seeking among men with prostate cancer.

European journal of cancer care·2017
Same author

Screening Tests for Depression in Older Black vs. White Patients.

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·2017
Same author

Establishing a Geriatric Psychiatric Consultation in a VA Medical Center.

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry·2017
Same author

Coronary Artery Disease Associated Transcription Factor TCF21 Regulates Smooth Muscle Precursor Cells that Contribute to the Fibrous Cap.

Genomics data·2015
Same author

The black woman academic psychiatrist.

Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry·2014

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Depression is prevalent in elderly populations, particularly those in skilled nursing facilities.
  • Frail elderly veterans with severe medical comorbidities present unique challenges for accurate depression screening.
  • Assessing mental health in patients with limited communication and endurance requires specialized tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To screen for depression in a population of veterans residing in a skilled nursing home.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of two depression screening instruments in a medically complex elderly population.
  • To identify the prevalence of depressive disorders within this specific veteran cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of 80 veteran residents in a Veterans Administration Hospital skilled nursing home.
  • Utilized the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Scale.
  • Assessed patients for DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnoses, including major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

Main Results:

  • 74% of patients (59/80) completed the screening battery.
  • 34% of the sample (20/59) met criteria for a DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis.
  • The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale demonstrated greater effectiveness compared to the Hamilton Depression Scale for this population.

Conclusions:

  • The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale is a more effective screening tool for depression in frail, elderly veterans with severe medical conditions.
  • Standard depression screening tools may require adaptation or careful selection for populations with significant communication and physical limitations.
  • Depressive disorders are common in this vulnerable veteran population, necessitating appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Related Experiment Videos