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Geriatric Depression Rating Scale, A Screening Test for Depression

By CounsellingResource Research Staff

This 15-question short version of the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale is intended to highlight the presence of depressive symptoms in older people.

Completing this Psychological Screening Test

To take the questionnaire, please click the radio button next to the selection which best reflects how each statement applies to you. The items refer to how you have felt and behaved over the last week.

Take the Quiz

Please note: This test will only be scored correctly if you answer each one of the questions. Please also check our disclaimer on psychological testing and our psychological testing privacy guarantee.

1. Are you basically satisfied with your life?

2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?

3. Do you feel that your life is empty?

4. Do you often get bored?

5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?

6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?

7. Do you feel happy most of the time?

8. Do you often feel helpless?

9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing new things?

10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?

11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?

12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?

13. Do you feel full of energy?

14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?

15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are?

About Scoring this Psychological Questionnaire

This quiz is scored by allocating 1 point to each ‘depressive’ answer, where the answer associated with depression is ‘yes’ for each question except for questions 1, 5, 7, 11, and 13.

Screening test scoring ranges:

  • 0 to 4, Normal Range
  • 5 to 8, Mild Depression
  • 9 to 11, Moderate Depression
  • 12 to 15, Severe Depression

When your quiz is scored, one of 4 different information pages will appear to describe the results for scores in your range.

Additional Information

This scale was developed as a basic screening measure for depression in older adults.

Original references include:

Brink TL, Yesavage JA, Lum O, Heersema P, Adey MB, Rose TL. (1982) ‘Screening tests for geriatric depression’, Clinical Gerontologist 1: 37-44.

Yesavage JA, Brink TL, Rose TL, Lum O, Huang V, Adey MB, Leirer VO. (1983) ‘Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report’, Journal of Psychiatric Research 17: 37-49.

Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA. (1986). ‘Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): Recent evidence and development of a shorter version’, in Clinical Gerontology : A Guide to Assessment and Intervention, pp. 165-173. NY: The Haworth Press.

Sheikh JI, Yesavage JA, Brooks JO, III, Friedman LF, Gratzinger P, Hill RD, Zadeik A, Crook T. (1991) ‘Proposed factor structure of the Geriatric Depression Scale’, International Psychogeriatrics 3: 23-28.