Psychometrics Properties of the Geriatric Depression Scale in the Cognitively
 
   Lead Investigator:    Matthew Clem
   Institution      :    UT Southwestern Medical Center
   E-Mail           :    matthew.clem@utsw.edu
   Proposal ID      :    747


   Publications:


1  Clem MA, LoBue C, Wilmoth K, Hart J, Jr., Cullum CM
   History of Depression is Associated with Earlier Age of Diagnosis in Alzheimer's Disease
   2017   Abstract  J Int Neuropsychol Soc , 

   ACCEPTED





   Proposal Description:
   The primary aim of this study is to determine the factor structure of the         Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) among individuals diagnosed with Mild            Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Based on previous        literature, we would expect the factor structure to differ from that of           non-cognitively impaired elderly individuals. Further, it is expected that the    GDS will assess apathy, sadness, and awareness of self/others.                    A secondary aim of this study is to determine if any of these factors             significantly predict progression from normal cognitive status (NC) and/or MCI    to AD. It is expected that factors related to apathy and awareness will           significantly predict progression to AD.                                          No study to date has examined the factor structure of the GDS among cognitively   impaired populations in an English-speaking sample. Literature in this field      has focused on depressive symptoms however, results regarding the implications    of depression on AD onset have been mixed. Primarily, the present study would     serve to characterize the various depressive syndromes seen in NC, MCI, and AD    individuals. Additionally, the present study would enable clinicians to develop   a syndrome-focused approach to identifying problematic depressive states, which   may provide further clarification in determining positive or poor prognostic      factors related to depression.                                                    The objectives of the present study are to characterize the factor structure of   the GDS among cognitively impaired populations, determine the prognostic          ability of these factors in determining MCI and/or AD onset, and to inform        clinicians regarding the relative importance of various depressive syndromes      depending on clinical diagnosis.