CLINICAL CUTOFFS FOR THE BECK DEPRESSION INVENTORY AND THE GERIATRIC DEPRESSION SCALE WITH OLDER ADULT PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENTS

The present study developed new clinical cutoffs for the Beck Depressi on Inventory (BDI) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) with 59 ol der adult psychiatric outpatients. Maximum discrimination of a current major depressive episode resulted, with cutoff scores of 22 for the B DI and 16 for the GDS. Specifically, the following validity scores eme rged for the BDI: sensitivity, 64%; specificity, 73%; positive predict ive power, 75%; negative predictive power, 61%; and hit rate 68%. For the GDS the validity scores were as follows: sensitivity, 79%; specifi city, 69%; positive predictive power, 77%; negative predictive power, 72%; and hit rate, 75%. Combined BDI and GDS scores did not result in improved prediction of a current major depressive episode as compared to the GDS alone. These results support the notion that the BDI and GD S are valid quick screening instruments in discriminating a current ma jor depressive episode for older adult psychiatric outpatients.