GDS-15: A brief screening tool for depression in elderly populations. Focuses on psychological aspects to avoid confounders from chronic physical illness.
Questionnaire (0/15)
1. Are you basically satisfied with your life?
2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?
3. Do you feel that your life is empty?
4. Do you often get bored?
5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?
6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?
7. Do you feel happy most of the time?
8. Do you often feel helpless?
9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things?
10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?
11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?
12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?
13. Do you feel full of energy?
14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?
15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are?
Assessment Results
Complete all 15 questions to view the clinical severity and interpretation.
Guidelines & Evidence
Clinical Details
Section 1
When to Use
When to Use
Screening for depression in adults aged 60 and older
Assessment of mood when somatic symptoms (sleep, weight, appetite) are confounded by chronic physical illness
Longitudinal monitoring of depression treatment in geriatric psychiatry
Screening in nursing homes or assisted living facilities
Patient Population
Validated for use in elderly populations, including those with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Not intended for use in patients with severe dementia who cannot provide reliable self-report.
Section 2
Formula & Logic
Scoring Logic
The GDS-15 consists of 15 questions regarding feelings over the past week. Questions are scored as 0 or 1 point, where 1 indicates a depressive response. Unlike adult scales, it focuses on psychological/affective symptoms rather than somatic symptoms.
Thresholds
0–4 points
Normal / Not depressed
5–8 points
Mild depression
9–11 points
Moderate depression
12–15 points
Severe depression
Section 3
Pearls/Pitfalls
Why Choice GDS-15?
Avoids "Somatic Confounds": Does not include items on sleep, appetite, or libido which are often affected by medical conditions in the elderly.
High Sensitivity: 92% sensitivity at the ≥5 cut-off for Major Depressive Disorder.
Brief Administration: Takes <5 minutes to complete.
Validated in Cognitive Impairment: Retains accuracy in patients with MMSE scores as low as 15.
Section 4
Evidence Appraisal
Primary Validation
Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): recent evidence and development of a shorter version.
Sheikh JI et al. • Clin Gerontol.. 1986;5(1/2):165-173. Original validation of the 15-item short form against the 30-item original.
Screening performance of the 15-item geriatric depression scale in a diverse elderly home care population.
Marc LG et al. • Am J Geriatr Psychiatry.. 2008;16(11):914-21. Confirmed utility in home-bound elderly populations.
