Validity and reliability of the Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale (MDSDRS) for older adults in nursing homes.

Objective: this research examined the psychometric properties of the Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale for use among older adults living in nursing homes.

Methods: interviews with 145 older adults in three nursing homes were conducted to complete the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Information relevant to completing the Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale was gathered from the Minimum Data Set.

Results: the Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale did not perform well when validated against the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale cut-off levels of > or =2 and > or =3 were associated with relatively low total score correlations and sensitivity rates, but acceptable specificity.

Conclusions: findings suggest that the Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale may be of limited clinical value to identify depression among older adults living in nursing homes.