What is a normal GDS-15 score?

GDS-15 score interpretation: 0-4 = Normal (no depression); 5-8 = Mild depression; 9-11 = Moderate depression; 12-15 = Severe depression. A score of 5 or above is the standard cut-off for significant depression requiring further evaluation. The GDS-15 is validated for use in adults aged 65 and older.

How is the GDS-15 scored?

The GDS-15 uses 15 yes/no questions. Each answer indicating depression scores 1 point. For most questions, 'No' is the depressive answer — but for 5 questions (1, 5, 7, 11, 13), 'Yes' is the healthy/positive answer, so 'No' scores 1 point. The total score ranges from 0 to 15.

What is the GDS-15 cut-off for depression?

A GDS-15 score of 5 or above is the standard cut-off for depression screening in older adults, with sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 89% for major depression. Scores of 5-8 suggest mild depression, 9-11 suggest moderate depression, and 12-15 suggest severe depression requiring urgent psychiatric evaluation.

What is a normal GDS-15 score?

GDS-15 score interpretation: 0-4 = Normal (no depression); 5-8 = Mild depression; 9-11 = Moderate depression; 12-15 = Severe depression. A score of 5 or above is the standard cut-off for significant depression requiring further evaluation. The GDS-15 is validated for use in adults aged 65 and older.

How is the GDS-15 scored?

The GDS-15 uses 15 yes/no questions. Each answer indicating depression scores 1 point. For most questions, 'No' is the depressive answer — but for 5 questions (1, 5, 7, 11, 13), 'Yes' is the healthy/positive answer, so 'No' scores 1 point. The total score ranges from 0 to 15.

What is the GDS-15 cut-off for depression?

A GDS-15 score of 5 or above is the standard cut-off for depression screening in older adults, with sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 89% for major depression. Scores of 5-8 suggest mild depression, 9-11 suggest moderate depression, and 12-15 suggest severe depression requiring urgent psychiatric evaluation.

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) Calculator

GDS-15 Score Interpretation Reference

Score	Classification	Clinical Description	Action
0 – 4	Normal	No significant depression detected on screening	Routine care; reassess at next visit
5 – 8	Mild Depression	Mild depressive symptoms — screen positive	Clinical interview for MDD, medication review, social assessment, consider watchful waiting or psychological support
9 – 11	Moderate Depression	Moderate depression — significant functional impact	Psychiatric or geriatric assessment, medication evaluation, consider antidepressant therapy, care planning
12 – 15	Severe Depression	Severe depression — urgent evaluation needed	Urgent psychiatric referral, suicide risk assessment, medication therapy, caregiver support
Sensitivity: 92% \| Specificity: 89%	At cut-off ≥5, validated against DSM-IV major depressive disorder in adults aged 65+

Score

Classification

Clinical Description

Action

0 – 4

Normal

No significant depression detected on screening

Routine care; reassess at next visit

5 – 8

Mild Depression

Mild depressive symptoms — screen positive

Clinical interview for MDD, medication review, social assessment, consider watchful waiting or psychological support

9 – 11

Moderate Depression

Moderate depression — significant functional impact

Psychiatric or geriatric assessment, medication evaluation, consider antidepressant therapy, care planning

12 – 15

Severe Depression

Severe depression — urgent evaluation needed

Urgent psychiatric referral, suicide risk assessment, medication therapy, caregiver support

Sensitivity: 92% | Specificity: 89%

At cut-off ≥5, validated against DSM-IV major depressive disorder in adults aged 65+

GDS-15 Questions — Scoring Reference (Which Answer Scores 1 Point)

#	Question	Depressive Answer (scores 1)
1	Are you basically satisfied with your life?	NO
2	Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?	YES
3	Do you feel that your life is empty?	YES
4	Do you often get bored?	YES
5	Are you in good spirits most of the time?	NO
6	Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?	YES
7	Do you feel happy most of the time?	NO
8	Do you often feel helpless?	YES
9	Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing things?	YES
10	Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?	YES
11	Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?	NO
12	Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?	YES
13	Do you feel full of energy?	NO
14	Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?	YES
15	Do you think that most people are better off than you are?	YES

Question

Depressive Answer (scores 1)

Are you basically satisfied with your life?

Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?

YES

Do you feel that your life is empty?

YES

Do you often get bored?

YES

Are you in good spirits most of the time?

Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?

YES

Do you feel happy most of the time?

Do you often feel helpless?

YES

Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing things?

YES

Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?

YES

Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?

Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?

YES

Do you feel full of energy?

Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?

YES

Do you think that most people are better off than you are?

YES

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15): Clinical Guide

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was developed by Jerome Yesavage and colleagues at Stanford University and published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research in 1983. The full 30-item version was later shortened to the 15-item GDS-15 (Sheikh and Yesavage, 1986), which maintains the sensitivity and specificity of the full scale while requiring only 5 minutes to administer. The GDS-15 is validated specifically for adults aged 65 and older — it uses simple yes/no questions that avoid complex rating scales, making it accessible for older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Why the GDS is Preferred Over the PHQ-9 in Older Adults

The PHQ-9, while excellent in younger adults, has limitations in geriatric populations: it includes somatic symptoms (sleep, appetite, fatigue, psychomotor changes) that are commonly caused by medical conditions rather than depression in older adults, potentially inflating scores. The GDS avoids somatic items entirely, focusing on psychological and social dimensions of depression. The GDS is therefore more specific for depression in medically complex older patients.

Scoring Rules — Depressive vs Healthy Answers

For 10 of the 15 questions, answering Yes scores 1 depressive point (e.g., "Do you feel your life is empty?"). For 5 questions (1, 5, 7, 11, 13), answering No scores 1 depressive point — these are positively framed questions where a healthy response is Yes (e.g., "Are you basically satisfied with your life?"). This bidirectional scoring prevents response bias from patients who answer all questions the same way.

Dr. Nikhil Mahajan, PT, MPTDoctor of Physical Therapy · Reviewed January 15, 2026 · View full credentials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the GDS-15 be used in patients with dementia?

The GDS-15 has acceptable validity in mild to moderate cognitive impairment (MMSE > 15). However, in severe dementia, patients cannot reliably self-report mood due to lack of insight and memory impairment. For these patients, the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) — an observer-rated scale using informant interview — is preferred. Always supplement the GDS with clinical observation and caregiver interview in any patient with known cognitive impairment.

What is the difference between GDS-15 and GDS-30?

The GDS-30 is the original full 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (Yesavage, 1983). The GDS-15 (Sheikh and Yesavage, 1986) is a shortened version that selects the 15 items with the highest correlation with depression diagnosis. Both versions have comparable sensitivity and specificity for major depression in older adults. The GDS-15 is preferred in clinical practice due to its shorter administration time (5 vs 10 minutes).

What action should be taken if the GDS-15 score is ≥5?

A score of ≥5 is a screen positive result indicating possible depression and should trigger: (1) a structured clinical interview using DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder; (2) medication review for depression-causing agents (beta-blockers, corticosteroids, opioids, benzodiazepines); (3) medical workup to exclude thyroid disease and vitamin B12 deficiency; (4) social assessment for isolation, bereavement, and caregiver burden; (5) referral to geriatric psychiatry or psychology for scores ≥9.