Depression

Depression ( 5 Questions)

A nurse is planning to screen an older adult client for depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

Which of the following statements is true about this tool?



Correct Answer: E

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a screening tool used to identify symptoms of depression in older adults.

It was originally developed by J.A. Yesavage and colleagues in 1982.

It consists of questions that assess a person’s level of enjoyment, interest, social interactions, and more.

• Choice A is correct because the GDS consists of 30 yes/no questions that assess the client’s mood and cognitive function.

• Choice B is correct because the GDS has a cut-off score of 10, indicating a high risk of depression. A score of 0 to 9 indicates normal mood, while a score of 10 to 19 indicates mild depression and a score of 20 to 30 indicates severe depression.

• Choice C is correct because the GDS can be administered by the nurse, the client or a family member.

The GDS is a self-report instrument that uses a “yes/no” format, which makes it easy to complete by different people.

• Choice D is correct because the GDS takes about 15 minutes to complete and score. The GDS is a brief and simple tool that can be used in various settings, such as acute, long-term, and community settings.

• Choice E is correct because it summarizes all the previous choices.

Therefore, the GDS is a valid and reliable tool for screening depression in older adults. It has several advantages, such as being specific for psychiatric rather than somatic symptoms, being appropriate for healthy as well as medically ill adults and those with mild to moderate cognitive impairments, and being available in different forms and languages.




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