Clinical Review
Comparing Depression Screening Tests in Older veterans
Fed Pract. 2011 June;28(6):11
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Stacy Schantz Wilkins, PhD; Jenice Guzman-Clark, RN, PhD; Sheryl Osato, PhD; Nancy Harada, PhD; Donna Henriques, RN, PhD; Catherine Royer, LCSW; Tania Abouezzedine, PhD; Steven Castle, MD; and Shawkat Dhanani, MD.
Dr. Wilkins is a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, Dr. Guzman-Clark is a gerontological nurse practitioner, Dr. Henriques is a geriatric nurse, Dr. Abouezzedine was a psychology intern during the time of this study, Dr. Castle is the clinical director, and Dr. Dhanani is the director of the Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit, all at the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center; Dr. Osato is the director and Ms. Royer is a clinical social worker, both in the Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Program; and Dr. Harada is the associate director of graduate medical education, all at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System in California. In addition, Dr. Wilkins is an associate director of graduate medical education, all at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System in California. In addition, Dr. Wilkins is an associate clinical professor of medicine, Dr. Guzman-Clark is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Dr. Harada is an adjunct professor of medicine, and Drs. Castle and Dhanani are clinical professors of medicine, all at the University of California in Los Angeles.
In choosing a depression screening instrument, the practitioner has many factors to consider, including sensitivity and specificity of the test, as
well as characteristics of the population being screened.
Depression in older adults not only causes distress, but also can lead to impairments in physical, mental, and social functioning. An estimated 20% of older adults in the community, and as many as 50% in nursing homes, have a diagnosis of depression.1 The detection and treatment of depressive symptoms in this population is critical to improving quality of life, general health, morbidity, and mortality.