Geriatric Depression Scale

[Guest guest]

I located a site via Google (one of many, of course) from Stanford

University that has complete instructions on administering the test

and scoring it accordingly. There is both a long and short version.

I regularly used a short verson for most of my clients, but also used

the long version if I felt that it was necessary to do so. I would

administer this test and forward it to the doctor with a letter

regarding the patient, or it is an excellent tool to bring with to a

doctor's office to help start a discussion about the use of an

antidepressant for any individual, loved one or cargiver alike. The

sites is

http://www.stanford.edu/~yesavage/GDS.html

Another site mentions another assessment that I have used

professionally, but I was not able to get to a copy of the assessment

itself. Mainly, this particular assessment called the Relatives

Assessment of Global Symptomatology asks the caregiver about the

symptoms of dementia - in this particular case Alzheimer's dementia-

and how the caregiver perceives it. That site was

http://ajgp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/7/4/321

If I ever locate the a copy of the RAGS test, I will forward it to you

as all of you are the constant advocates of your LO, and having such a

test can be helpful to you in your quest for appropriate meds.

I do hope that this is helpful for some of you out there.

Renae