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[Screening for depression by telephone using the German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression
Janine Stein1, Melanie Luppa1, Jette Mahnke1
1Institut für Sozialmedizin, Arbeitsmedizin und Public Health (ISAP), Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Leipzig.
Objective:
Analyses of the reliability and validity of the German version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the assessment of normative values.
Method:
A representative sample of 868 people (German population, 18 to 94 years) was assessed via structured interviews in a telephone survey.
Results:
According to the cut-off score of 16 points, 8.5 % of the total sample (11.0 % women and 5.6 % men) showed relevant depressive symptoms. When using the cut-off score of 22 points, 3.5 % of the subjects of the total sample, 4.2 % of the women and 2.5% of the men, were classified as depressed. The analysis of the psychometric properties of the instrument such as internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity and factor structure revealed moderate to good results. Percentile standard values were determined.
Conclusion:
The German version of the CES-D can be described as a reliable and valid instrument for detecting depressive symptoms. The present study offers current normative data for the specific use in telephone surveys.
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