Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
Short definition
The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a questionnaire for screening depressive symptoms in older people, with questions answered yes or no.
In plain language
The original 1982 version has 30 questions; the most used today is the short form with 15 (GDS-15), which has European Portuguese versions. It leaves out physical complaints such as sleep or appetite, which in older people overlap with other illnesses. It is a screening tool, not a diagnosis: a high score calls for assessment by a health professional.