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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.

Original publication

DOI

10.1192/bjp.182.4.347

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Psychiatry

Publication Date

04/2003

Volume

182

Pages

347 - 353

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Caregivers, Depressive Disorder, Female, Focus Groups, Humans, Learning Disorders, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity