• Geriatrics
  • Mental health
  • General medicine

GDS-15 score

Depression in the elderly

The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) is a screening tool for depressive symptoms in older adults. Its short form facilitates mood assessment, without establishing a diagnosis of depression on its own. It is not a cognitive test.

Number of questions
15 questions
Approximate duration
5 to 7 minutes
Population
Elderly people
Modality
Self-administered questionnaire or assisted completion

QuestionnaireGDS-15

SELF-QUESTIONNAIRE

The fifteen questions require a yes or no answer and relate to the past week. Points are awarded according to the scoring key for each item: not every "yes" earns a point.

Are you patient?

You can answer yourself, with reading assistance if needed. The result is used to discuss your mood with a professional, not to make a diagnosis on your own.

Question 1 / 15

1

Are you satisfied with your life?

Terms of contract

Reading assistance may be helpful, but it is important to note who answered and under what conditions. If comprehension prevents reliable self-assessment, do not fabricate a score by answering on behalf of the patient.

Score interpretationGDS-15

Each answer suggestive of a depressive symptom scores 1 point: "no" for questions 1, 5, 7, 11, and 13, and "yes" for the others. The total score ranges between 0 and 15.

Total score

First reading

  • 0 to 5

    Score below the screening threshold (0 to 5).

  • 6 to 9

    Score above the screening threshold (6 to 9), suggesting a probable depression.

  • 10 to 15

    A score of 10 or more almost always indicates the existence of depression (10 to 15).

Above 5 points, an additional clinical interview is required. Cut-off scores may vary depending on the validation and the protocol: avoid mixing multiple assessment scales.

Administration relies on the patient's comprehension and responses: cognitive or communication difficulties may affect interpretation. The score does not replace a clinical assessment of mood and safety, and should not be construed as a definitive diagnosis or a therapeutic decision. The threshold and version used must accompany the result, particularly when it is communicated between professionals.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and references

Javaid I. Sheikh and Jerome A. Yesavage

Short version: Clinical Gerontologist, 1986. Derived form of the 30-item GDS.

Questionnaires and associated scores

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