OriginalArticle Agreement in Depression Depression Scales AppliedDetermination among Four SelfiRating to Japa ese Community - Dwelling Elderly

Objective: In this study, we examined the characteristics of depressien determination using four representatiye selfirating depression scales (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS; Selfirating Depression Scale, SDS; Center for Epidemiotogic Studies Depressien Scale, CES-D; and Carroll Rating Scale, CRS) applied to Japanese community-dwelling elderly. Methods: Subjects were 563 community-dwelling independent elderly living in twelve prefectures (330 males, 68.9±6.3 yr; 233 t'emales, 68.1±5.8 yr). Results: Depression rates determined using SDS (45.8%) and CES-D (68.6%) were higher than those determined using GDS (5.7%) and CRS (14.7%). Although correlations ef depression scale scores among the four scales were significant and comparabJe (r: O.61 (GDS vs. SDS, pO.05) to O.46 (SDS vs. CES-D, p<O.Ol)). Conclusions: Similarities in depression determination were found between GDS and CRS, and between CES-D and SDS. Depression rates determined on the basis of cut-off point for each scale were higher for CES-D and SDS than for GDS and CRS. Depression determination using a four-point rating scale may oyerestimate a slightly depressiye symptom, compared with that using a two-point scale.