The Geriatric Depression Scale, 15-item (GDS-15) is a brief yes/no questionnaire that screens for depressive symptoms in older adults. Developed as a shorter form of the original 30-item scale, it avoids somatic questions that overlap with physical illness and normal aging, which makes it well suited to primary care, geriatric, and long-term care settings where time is limited.
Why healthcare providers use the GDS-15
- Fast to complete. Most older adults answer the 15 yes/no items in about five minutes, so it fits into a routine visit without adding much burden.
- Age-appropriate wording. The questions focus on mood and outlook and minimize physical symptoms, so scores are less confounded by chronic illness common in later life.
- Validated screening threshold. A total of 5 or higher flags patients who may warrant a fuller diagnostic evaluation, which guides clinical decision-making.
- Repeatable over time. Because it is short and free to use, the GDS-15 can be re-administered to track whether symptoms are improving or worsening.
Which settings use the GDS-15?
- Primary care. Clinicians use it to screen older patients for depression during annual wellness visits and routine appointments.
- Geriatric and memory clinics. Teams use it alongside cognitive and functional assessments to separate mood symptoms from other concerns.
- Long-term care and skilled nursing. Staff screen residents on admission and at intervals to monitor changes in mood.
- Home health. Visiting clinicians can administer it verbally or on paper for homebound older adults.
What does the GDS-15 measure?
The GDS-15 asks how the person has felt over the past week, focusing on subjective mood and outlook rather than physical or somatic complaints. The items tap several related domains of depressive experience.
- Mood and life satisfaction. Overall contentment, happiness, and satisfaction with life.
- Interest and engagement. Loss of interest in activities and a tendency toward social withdrawal.
- Helplessness and hopelessness. Feeling that the situation is hopeless or that things are worse for oneself than for others.
- Energy and self-worth. Feelings of low energy, memory concerns, worthlessness, and a preference to stay home.
Scoring the GDS-15
- Number of items. 15 questions answered yes or no.
- Per-item scale. Each item scores 0 or 1, with the depressive response earning 1 point; some items are reverse scored.
- Total score range. 0 to 15.
- Score direction. Higher totals indicate more depressive symptoms.
The GDS-15 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A score of 5 or higher is the most widely validated threshold for suggesting possible depression and warranting further evaluation. The severity bands below are commonly cited but should be interpreted with care, since factors such as education, cognitive impairment, and cultural background can affect scores. Any positive screen prompts follow-up rather than a diagnosis.
| Score | Interpretation | Suggested next step |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | No depression suggested | Routine monitoring |
| 5 to 8 | Mild depressive symptoms | Consider further assessment |
| 9 to 11 | Moderate depressive symptoms | Consider further assessment |
| 12 to 15 | Severe depressive symptoms | Prompt further evaluation |
Best practices for administration
- Anchor to the past week. Remind the patient that each answer should reflect how they have felt over the past week.
- Offer help when needed. The scale can be self-administered or read aloud for patients with vision or literacy limitations.
- Screen for cognition first. Results are less reliable with significant cognitive impairment, so interpret alongside a cognitive assessment when relevant.
- Confirm all items are answered. A complete set of 15 responses is needed for a valid total, so check for skipped questions.
- Pair with clinical judgment. Use the score to prompt follow-up, not to replace a clinical interview or a broader assessment of risk.
How Zentake helps with the GDS-15
- Automatic scoring. Zentake totals the GDS-15 on submit, so there is no hand-tallying and no arithmetic errors.
- Longitudinal tracking. Re-send it on a schedule and view change over time to see whether symptoms are shifting.
- Before the visit. Geriatrics practices let patients complete it from home on any device, so the clinician starts the appointment already informed.
- HIPAA compliant. Responses are encrypted and covered by a signed BAA on every plan.
References
The 15-item short form was derived by Sheikh and Yesavage (1986) from the original 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (Yesavage et al., 1982). Validation studies support a cutoff of 5 or higher as an indicator of possible depression warranting further evaluation.
The severity bands used above (5 to 8 mild, 9 to 11 moderate, 12 to 15 severe) are drawn from the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing Try This series. The GDS is in the public domain and free to use.
Last updated: August 2026