Accuracy of three depression screening scales to diagnose major depressive episodes in older adults without neurocognitive disorders

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of three depression screening scales to diagnose major depressive episodes in the elderly. Methods: Participants (n=129, 88% female) answered a semi-structured psychiatric interview (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) to determine the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. After this, depressive symptoms in depressed and non-depressed subjects were assessed by independent administration of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depressio...