Table 3.
Frequency of “depressed” responses for each GDS item
| GDS subscale items | % endorsing item (total sample) N = 90 | % endorsing item (GDS scores ≤15) N = 77 | % endorsing item (GDS scores > 15) N = 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dys #1 (mood) | |||
| Satisfied with life | 13% | 7% | 54% |
| Life empty | 10% | 4% | 46% |
| Often get bored | 21% | 12% | 77% |
| In good spirits | 11% | 3% | 62% |
| Happy most of time | 12% | 5% | 54% |
| Wonderful to be alive | 8% | 4% | 31% |
| Downhearted and blue | 22% | 12% | 85% |
| Others better off than you | 24% | 16% | 69% |
| Feel like crying | 26% | 20% | 62% |
| Dys #2 (hopelessness) | |||
| Hopeful about future | 20% | 14% | 54% |
| Often feel helpless | 31% | 24% | 77% |
| Worthless | 24% | 12% | 92% |
| Situation hopeless | 26% | 17% | 77% |
| Withdrawal/apathy/vigor | |||
| Dropped activities | 42% | 36% | 77% |
| Prefer to stay home | 49% | 41% | 100% |
| Find life exciting | 45% | 36% | 100% |
| Hard to get started | 48% | 41% | 92% |
| Full of energy | 75% | 71% | 100% |
| Avoid social gatherings | 38% | 33% | 69% |
| Anxiety | |||
| Bothered by thoughts | 28% | 18% | 85% |
| Afraid of something bad | 25% | 16% | 77% |
| Worry about future | 49% | 42% | 92% |
| Worry about past | 8% | 5% | 23% |
| Cognitive | |||
| Memory problems | 30% | 25% | 62% |
| Trouble concentrating | 37% | 30% | 77% |
| Easy to make decisions | 39% | 30% | 92% |
| Mind clear as it used to be | 56% | 50% | 92% |
| Agitation | |||
| Restless and fidgety | 51% | 45% | 85% |
| Upset over little things | 33% | 28% | 62% |
| Enjoy getting up in a.m. | 22% | 16% | 62% |
Abbreviations: GDS, Geriatric Depression Rating Scale.