Geriatric Depression Scale Calculator
GDS-15 depression screening for elderly with severity classification, treatment recommendations, and risk assessment.
Medical Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.
Inputs
Results
GDS-15 total (0-15)
0
How to Use This Calculator
- Answer each yes/no item on the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (15 items).
- Score items in the depression-indicative direction per the validated GDS-SF scoring key.
- Review the Total GDS Score — scores of 5 or higher suggest probable depression.
- Check the Severity Classification: normal (0–4), mild depression (5–8), or moderate-severe (9–15).
- Use the score to guide mental health referral and treatment planning for older adults.
What each input means
- Life satisfaction items (0-5)
- Count of depressive answers: dissatisfied with life, dropped activities, feel life is empty, don't feel happy, feel that life is not worthwhile.
- Social withdrawal items (0-4)
- Count of depressive answers: prefer to stay home, feel others are better off, feel helpless, feel no one cares.
- Hopelessness items (0-4)
- Count of depressive answers: afraid something bad will happen, feel hopeless, worry a lot, situation is hopeless.
- Cognitive complaint items (0-2)
- Count of depressive answers: problems with memory, difficulty concentrating.
- Age
- Patient age in years.
- Chronic Pain
- Has chronic pain condition.
- Recent Bereavement
- Major loss within past 6 months.
- Social Support
- Social support network level.
What each result means
- GDS-15 total (0-15)
- 0-4 = Normal, 5-8 = Mild depression, 9-11 = Moderate, 12-15 = Severe.
- Severity (1-4)
- 1 = Normal, 2 = Mild, 3 = Moderate, 4 = Severe depression.
- Suicide screen flag
- 1 = Elevated risk — further assessment recommended, 0 = Below threshold.
- PHQ-9 equivalent estimate
- Approximate PHQ-9 cross-walk score (0-27) for clinical comparison.
- Treatment level (1-4)
- 1 = Monitoring, 2 = Psychotherapy, 3 = Psychotherapy + medication consideration, 4 = Urgent evaluation needed.
- Contextual risk score
- Risk adjusted for chronic pain, bereavement, social support, and age (0-100).
- Functional impact score
- Estimated impact on daily functioning (0-100).
- GDS-5 estimate (0-5)
- Ultra-short form approximation. >= 2 suggests depression.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersLife satisfaction items (0-5) = 0, Social withdrawal items (0-4) = 0, Hopelessness items (0-4) = 0, Cognitive complaint items (0-2) = 0 = 8 input(s) provided
- Calculate GDS-15 totalGDS-15 total0 = 0
- Calculate Severity1 = 1
- Calculate Suicide screen flagSuicide screen flag0 = 0
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