An Arabic Version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (30 Items): Psychometric Properties and Some Findings in a Lebanese Elderly Sample

Abstract

Background/Aim: Although the rates of depression and anxiety disorders have been shown to be higher in older people, especially those living in institutional settings, most of this population remains undiagnosed and untreated. The objective is to translate the full-scale Geriatric Depression Scale (30 items, GDS) into Arabic for use in elderly patients in Lebanon, to check its validity and reproducibility in comparison to the original version of the questionnaire, and assess the risk factors associated with depression in the Lebanese geriatric population. Methods: This case-control study was conducted between June and August 2016 and included 500 patients aged more than 60 years (250 living inside and 250 outside a nursing home). Results: Strongly positive correlations (p < 0.001 for all items of the scale) were found between each item of the scale and the total scale. The mean inter-item correlation for our scale was 0.51, higher than that of the original scale (0.36), with an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.901). Living in a nursing home, stress, anxiety, being married, age, and the primary level of education would significantly increase depression (β = 2.211, β = 0.223, β = 0.041, β = 0.902, β = 0.118, and β = 3.533, respectively). A normal nutritional status and a university level of education would significantly decrease depression (β = –0.732; β = –1.961). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the GDS can be used to estimate the severity of depression in the Lebanese elderly population. Periodic screening for anxiety, nutritional status, and stress is also recommended among geriatric people living in Lebanon.

Geriatric Mental Health and COVID-19: An Eye-Opener to the Situation of the Arab Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region

“…19−26 Depressive symptoms are also common within sub-populations of older adults, reaching a prevalence of 46% in those with Parkinson's disease 27 and 57% to 86% in dementia of Alzheimer's type and vascular dementia, respectively. 28 Most studies identified living alone, 22−25 living in a nursing home, 25,29,30 illiteracy, 25,29,30 and having chronic diseases 19,24,25 to be associated with geriatric depression.…”

Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de depresión geriátrica: revisión sistemática

“…Vivir en un hogar de ancianos, el estrés, la ansiedad, estar casado, la edad y el nivel educativo primario aumentarían significativamente la depresión (β = 2.211, β = 0.223, β = 0.041, β = 0.902, β = 0.118 y β = 3.533, respectivamente). Un estado nutricional normal y un nivel educativo universitario disminuirían significativamente la depresión (β = -0,732; β = -1,961) (Hallit et al, 2018). Por lo contrario, en Turquía al reclutar un total de 329 pacientes adultos mayores ambulatorios.…”

Reliability and validity of Azeri Turkish version of geriatric depression scale

“…Another study in 2018 22 conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of 30-item GDS showed a positive significant relationship between all items of this scale and the main scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.90 indicating a high internal consistency for the scale.…”