Development and psychometric properties of the Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability. Individual and carer supplement versions.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: There is no reliable and valid self-report measure of depressive symptoms for people with learning disabilities. AIMS: To develop a scale for individuals with learning disability, and a supplementary scale for carers. METHOD: Items were generated from a range of assessment scales and through focus groups. A draft scale was piloted and field tested using matched groups of people with or without depression, and their carers. The scale was also administered to a group without learning disabilities for criterion validation. RESULTS: The Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability (GDS-LD) differentiated depression and non-depression groups, correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory - II (r=0.88), had good test-retest reliability (r=0.97) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.90), and a cut-off score (13) yielded 96% sensitivity and 90% specificity. The Carer Supplement was also reliable (r=0.98; alpha=0.88), correlating with the GDS-LD (r=0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Both scales appear useful for screening, monitoring progress and contributing to outcome appraisal.

Authors: Cuthill, F; Espie, C; Cooper, SA

• Journal: British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
• Volume: 182
• Issue: APR.
• Pages: 347-353
• Publication date: 2003-04-01
• DOI: 10.1192/bjp.182.4.347
• EISSN: 1472-1465
• ISSN: 0007-1250
• Language: English
• Keywords: Pilot Projects; Psychometrics; Middle Aged; Focus Groups; Caregivers; Adult; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Humans; Female; Aged; Depressive Disorder; Male; Learning Disorders