Goldberg depression test: characteristics and functions.

A screening test to explore possible symptoms of depression in patients.

Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide; it can also be one of the most disabling. A person with depression has lost hope of ever enjoying life again.

There are several psychological tests that assess depression; however, today we will focus on the depression test, today we will focus on the Goldberg Depression Testwhich is a screening tool to detect the presence of depressive symptoms (it is not a diagnostic tool).

Goldberg depression test: characteristics

The Goldberg depression test is a psychological test, as its name suggests, intended to determine whether or not there are symptoms of depression. (it is an orientative or screening test, not diagnostic).

It is also known as the Goldberg Depression Inventory; it is a test consisting of 18 questions, which provide immediate information regarding the level of depression experienced by the evaluee or patient.

It was designed by Dr. Ivan K. Goldberg, an American psychiatrist.. The Goldberg depression test is a simple, self-administered screening test for depression.

Questions

The questions follow a likert-type format with six response options each, always the same: "not at all", "a little", "sometimes", "moderately", "quite a lot" and "very much". The questions or statements to be answered by the respondent are of the type: "I find it difficult to make decisions", or "Pleasure and happiness seem to have disappeared in my life".

In answering the questions, the evaluee must answer taking into account what he/she has experienced, as well as his/her state of mind, in the last seven days.in the last seven days. In other words, he/she should focus only on that specific period.

Results

As for the results of the Goldberg depression test, we must be cautious, since the test will provide us with purely indicative results, never diagnostic.. That is why in case of suspicion of moderate or severe depression, you should go to a specialized professional or doctor to make the appropriate referral.

Applications

The Goldberg depression test can also be used not only as a diagnostic screening, but also as a follow-up tool to check the patient's progress throughout the sessions. throughout the sessions.

It is known that a variation of 5% in the results can represent a symptom of both improvement and worsening.

Goldberg questionnaire: also for anxiety

Goldberg actually also elaborated a complete questionnaire, which also included an anxiety scale; the so-called Goldberg questionnaire or Goldberg Anxiety Scale (EADG). This questionnaire consists of two completely independent scales, one for anxiety and one for depression.

The questionnaire has very high sensitivity and specificity values, which is why it is widely used for health care and epidemiological purposes, as well as a screening tool and as a guide for clinical interviews in primary care.

Subscales

Each of the subscales of the Goldberg depression test (depression and anxiety) is administered simultaneously, and is structured in 4 initial items that help to determine whether or not a mental disorder is likely to exist.and 5 secondary items that are only formulated if positive responses to the first 4 items are obtained (2 or more in the anxiety subscale, 1 or more in the depression subscale).

Questions and cut-off points

Questions 1-9 correspond to the anxiety subscale, and 10 to 18 correspond to the depression subscale. The first 4 questions of each subscale (questions 1-4) and (questions 10-13) respectively, are the precondition for determining whether the rest of the questions should be answered.

Thus, if a minimum of 2 questions from questions 1-4 are answered affirmatively, the rest of the first subscale should not be answered, while in the second subscale it is sufficient to answer affirmatively to one question from questions 10-13 to continue answering the rest.

The cut-off points for the anxiety scale is 4 (or more), and for depression is 2 (or more).

Bibliographic references:

• Arrieta, K.M., Días, S., & González, F. (2014). Depressive and anxiety symptoms in young university students: prevalence and related factors. REV CLIN MED FAM, 7(1): 14-22.
• Balanza, S., Morales, I, Guerrero, J, & Conesa, A. (2008). Reliability and validity of a questionnaire to measure in university students the association of anxiety and depression with academic and psychosociofamilial factors during the 2004-2005 academic year. Rev Esp Public Health, 2(82): 189-200.
• García, C. (1999). Manual for the use of the Goldberg general health questionnaire: Cuban adaptation. Revista Cubana de Medicina General Integral, 15(1), 88-97.
• Goldberg D, Bridges K, Duncan-Jones P, Grayson D. Detecting anxiety and depression in general medical settings. Br Med J. 1988; 297 (6653): 897-915.