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Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD)
Availability
Please visit this website for more information about the instrument: Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia
Classification
Supplemental: Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Short Description of Instrument
The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) is a 19-item clinician interview of the caregiver and patient. It is used as a screening tool to measure depression symptoms and signs over the past week. The scale takes approximately 30 minutes to administer.
Comments/Special Instructions
This scale was designed for use in geriatric patients with moderate to severe impairment. It has been validated in both demented and nondemented populations.
Scoring and Psychometric Properties
Scoring: Each item is scored 0 - 2, or "a" for unable to evaluate:
0 = absent
1 = mild or intermittent
2 = severe
Scores greater than 10 indicate that the patient is probably experiencing a major depressive episode.
Scores greater than 18 indicate that the patient is definitely experiencing a major depressive episode.
 
Psychometric Properties: In PD patients (n=134) the discriminant validity of the scale to distinguish which patients were identified as having a DSM-IV-TR depressive disorder was moderate, with an optimal cut-off score of 7/8 and AUC of 0.82. Internal consistency of the CSDD was also acceptable (Cronbach's a=0.84). These results indicate that the CSDD is a valid tool for identifying depressive disorders across the cognitive spectrum in PD.
Rationale/Justification
Strengths: Developed for assessment of depression in patients with dementia. Based on observation and interviews with the patient and an informant.
 
Weaknesses: Some overlap with bradykinesia and symptoms of psychomotor retardation.
References
Key References:
Alexopoulos GS, Abrams RC, Young RC, Shamoian CA. Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. Biol Psychiatry. 1988 Feb 1;23(3):271-84.
 
Williams JR, Marsh L. Validity of the Cornell scale for depression in dementia in Parkinson's disease with and without cognitive impairment. Mov Disord. 2009 Feb 15;24(3):433-7. doi: 10.1002/mds.22421. Erratum in: Mov Disord. 2009 May 15;24(7):1101.
 
Additional Reference:
Alexopoulos GS, Abrams RC, Young RC, Shamoian CA. Use of the Cornell scale in nondemented patients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1988 Mar;36(3):230-6.
 
Document last updated August 2022