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Printed on 4/21/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
The GDS-5 is a brief short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale designed for rapid mood screening in older adults. It uses yes/no responses and is commonly applied in geriatric primary care, long-term care, and memory-clinic workflows.
Formula: GDS-5 total = number of depressive-indicative responses (range 0-5).
GDS short forms have extensive validation in older-adult depression screening.
Higher GDS-5 totals indicate greater depressive symptom burden and need for further assessment.
Use for rapid depression triage in older adults, especially where brief screening is needed.
Binary short-form items can miss symptom nuance; sensory/cognitive limitations may affect response reliability.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
Screen depressive symptoms in older adults using the 15-item GDS-15 yes/no questionnaire.
Mental HealthFree PHQ-9 depression screening questionnaire. Take the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression severity with instant scoring and interpretation. Also screen for anxiety with [GAD-7](/tools/gad7).
Mental HealthScreen anxiety and depression symptom burden using the 14-item HADS (HADS-A + HADS-D).
GeriatricsA brief caregiver-burden questionnaire used to quantify strain in dementia and chronic-care contexts.