Validation of the Spanish version of the EURO-D scale: an instrument for detecting depression in older people

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry 2006-12, Vol.21 (12), p.1199-1205
• Main Authors: Larraga, Laura, Saz, Pedro, Dewey, Michael E., Marcos, Guillermo, Lobo, Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; community; Depression; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Educational Status; elderly; Epidemiologic Methods; EURO-D scale; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatric psychology; Geriatrics; Humans; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mood disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychoanalysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; reliability; Sex Distribution; Spain - epidemiology; Spanish language; Spanish version; Validity
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1642

Objective To standardize the EURO‐D scale as a method for detecting depression in Spanish older people. Methods In a first phase, a sample of 1080 community older people was assessed with the GMS‐AGECAT by lay interviewers. In a second phase, all the probable cases and a similar number of randomly selected probable non‐cases were assessed using DSM‐III‐R diagnosis by psychiatrists. To test reliability, internal consistency with the Cronbach alpha coefficient and test–retest reliability (Kappa value) were obtained. Validity, sensitivity and specificity, predictive values, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, and Specific Likelihood Ratios (SSLR) were calculated. Results A high internal consistency was obtained in both phases of the study (α = 0.75; α = 0.79, respectively). Test–retest reliability was acceptable (weighted kappa = 0.60). For the prediction of DSM‐III‐R diagnosis validity coefficients (cut‐off point 3/4) were: sensitivity 91.8%, specificity 76.6% and area under the ROC curve 0.92 [95% Confidence Intervals (0.89–0.95)]. Illiteracy and cognitive difficulties had a small negative effect on the performance of the scale. Conclusions The EURO‐D scale is a reliable and valid instrument for detecting probable cases of depression in older people in Spain. Illiteracy and cognitive difficulties should be considered when interpreting the results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.