Diagnostic utility of the quick inventory of depressive symptomatology (QIDS-C₁₆ and QIDS-SR₁₆) in the elderly

Objective: To evaluate psychometric properties and comparability ability of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) vs. the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician-rated (QIDS-C₁₆) and Self-report (QIDS-SR₁₆) scales to detect a current major depressive episode in the elderly. Method: Community and clinic subjects (age ≥60 years) were administered the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for DSM-IV and three depression scales randomly. Statistics included classical test and Samejima item response theories, factor analyzes, and receiver operating characteristic methods. Results: In 229 elderly patients (mean age = 73 years, 39% male, 54% current depression), all three scales were unidimensional and with nearly equal Cronbach α reliability (0.85-0.89). Each scale discriminated persons with major depression from the non-depressed, but the QIDS-C ₁₆ was slightly more accurate. Conclusion: All three tests are valid for detecting geriatric major depression with the QIDS-C₁₆ being slightly better. Self-rated QIDS-SR₁₆ is recommended as a screening tool as it is least expensive and least time consuming.