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The Gerontologist Advance Access originally published online on March 27, 2009
The Gerontologist 2009 49(2):262-275; doi:10.1093/geront/gnp018
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Rasch Analysis of the Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form

Karl S. Chiang, MA1,2, Kathy E. Green, PhD3 and Enid O. Cox, PhD4

2 Counseling Psychology Program, University of Denver, Colorado
3 Quantitative Research Methods Program, University of Denver, Colorado
4 Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, Colorado

1 Address correspondence to Karl S. Chiang, MA, PhD Candidate, University of Denver, Counseling Psychology Program, 2450 S. Vine Street, Denver, CO 80208. E-mail: kchiang{at}du.edu


  Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine scale dimensionality, reliability, invariance, targeting, continuity, cutoff scores, and diagnostic use of the Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form (GDS-SF) over time with a sample of 177 English-speaking U.S. elders. Design and Methods: An item response theory, Rasch analysis, was conducted with data from a larger study that implemented 3 interventions and collected data at 3 time points (prior to intervention, after intervention, and a year following the end of intervention). Results: A unidimensional structure was found in this study to adequately fit the data. There appears to be significant differential item functioning, with up to one third of the items indicating that the items have different meanings for different groups of participants. As a screening tool, the GDS-SF is more likely to discriminate between older adults who have a "moderate" level of depression than between those with mild depression and no diagnosed depression. Implications: We would recommend that the GDS-SF not be used as the sole method of screening for depression but incorporated into other clinical knowledge related to the geriatric patient in question, given that not all items are equally functional. The GDS-SF may be less effective as a screening tool but could be better used to detect a change in moderate levels of depression. Clinicians may also benefit by identifying person responses that misfit. If an individual provides responses that are atypical, the person might be referred to provide a more in-depth assessment of mental health status.

Keywords: Depression in old age, Item response theory, Depression, Psychometrics, Geriatric psychiatry

Received December 17, 2007; Accepted May 28, 2008

Decision Editor: William J. McAuley, PhD


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