The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item self-report measure designed to assess depressive symptoms in older adults. Developed by Yesavage et al. (1983) to address the poor applicability of existing depression screeners for this population, the GDS includes items tailored to older adults, reducing the over-reporting of somatic symptoms common among this group. The scale is brief and straightforward, typically completed in less than 10 minutes, and scored on a dichotomous format with each item contributing one point for a depressive response. Scores range from 0 to 30, with 0-9 indicating normal mood, 10-19 mild symptoms, and 20-30 severe symptoms. Research has shown excellent reliability for the GDS, with high alpha coefficients and test-retest correlations. Criterion validity is good, with sensitivity and specificity rates ranging from 75% to 95%. Convergent validity is demonstrated through high correlations with other depression scales, while discriminant validity is confirmed by lack of correlation with non-depressive constructs like cognition and pain. Alternative forms of the GDS, such as the GDS Short Form (GDS-SF) and GDS-15, have been developed to address cognitive and physical limitations. The GDS-SF, based on the 15 items with the highest correlations, is valid for older adults and young/young-middle-aged adults, though its effectiveness varies across different populations. Overall, the GDS remains a widely used and reliable tool for screening depression in older adults.The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is a 30-item self-report measure designed to assess depressive symptoms in older adults. Developed by Yesavage et al. (1983) to address the poor applicability of existing depression screeners for this population, the GDS includes items tailored to older adults, reducing the over-reporting of somatic symptoms common among this group. The scale is brief and straightforward, typically completed in less than 10 minutes, and scored on a dichotomous format with each item contributing one point for a depressive response. Scores range from 0 to 30, with 0-9 indicating normal mood, 10-19 mild symptoms, and 20-30 severe symptoms. Research has shown excellent reliability for the GDS, with high alpha coefficients and test-retest correlations. Criterion validity is good, with sensitivity and specificity rates ranging from 75% to 95%. Convergent validity is demonstrated through high correlations with other depression scales, while discriminant validity is confirmed by lack of correlation with non-depressive constructs like cognition and pain. Alternative forms of the GDS, such as the GDS Short Form (GDS-SF) and GDS-15, have been developed to address cognitive and physical limitations. The GDS-SF, based on the 15 items with the highest correlations, is valid for older adults and young/young-middle-aged adults, though its effectiveness varies across different populations. Overall, the GDS remains a widely used and reliable tool for screening depression in older adults.