Psychiatry Investig.  2013 Dec;10(4):359-364.

Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia: Study of Residents in a Northern Thai Long-Term Care Home

• Wongpakaran N
• Wongpakaran T

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to analyse the validity of the Thai version of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) when using DSM-IV criteria.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out of 84 elderly residents in a residential care home setting in Thailand. The participants went through a comprehensive geriatric assessment which included a Mini-Mental State Examination, a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and use of the CSDD tool. A ROC analysis was performed in order to test the validity of the CSDD as against the DSM-IV when used by the MINI.
RESULTS
ROC analysis revealed a better score for those areas found under the curve for the CSDD-as against the DSM-IV criteria (0.96). With a cut-off score of >6, the CSDD yielded the highest sensitivity score (100%), plus produced a specificity of 81% and a negative predictive value of 100%. It also had a positive predictive value of 69%. The validity of the CSDD was found to be better for the group experiencing cognitive impairment than with the non-cognitive impairment group in terms of the agreement of CSDD items between patients and caregivers. The CSDD yielded a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.87).
CONCLUSION
CSDD is a valid tool to use for identifying depressive disorders among Thai LTC home residents - those experiencing and those not experiencing cognitive impairment.

Keyword

The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD); Validity; Thai

MeSH Terms

Aged
Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Caregivers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dementia*
Depression*
Depressive Disorder
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Geriatric Assessment
Humans
Long-Term Care*
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Thailand