Skip to main content
This self-assessment Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) , was originally developed by Jerome A. Yesavage, Terrence L. Brink, Theodore L. Rose, Olga Lum, Vivian Huang, Meredith Adey, and Von Leirer . TraitProfiler provides an interactive digital version for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes only.

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

Background

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is one of the most widely used screening instruments for identifying depressive symptoms and emotional distress in older adults.
The GDS was specifically developed to reduce the influence of physical or medical symptoms that commonly occur during aging and instead focuses on emotional, motivational, cognitive, and psychological experiences associated with depression in later life.

Psychological Domains Measured

  • Life Satisfaction
  • Interest and Motivation
  • Emotional Well-Being
  • Anxiety and Worry
  • Hopelessness
  • Social Withdrawal
  • Cognitive Concerns
  • Energy and Activity
  • Self-Worth
  • Emotional Distress
Life Satisfaction
Measures general contentment, fulfillment, and satisfaction with daily life and personal circumstances.
Interest and Motivation
Measure enjoyment, engagement in activities, initiative, curiosity, and willingness to participate in life experiences.
Emotional Well-Being
Measures positive mood, happiness, optimism, and emotional balance.
Anxiety and Worry
Measure excessive concern, nervousness, fearfulness, intrusive thoughts, and emotional tension.
Hopelessness
Measures pessimism, helplessness, negative expectations, and feelings of emotional defeat.
Social Withdrawal
Measures isolation, avoidance of social situations, reduced participation, and interpersonal disengagement.
Cognitive Concerns
Measure concentration, memory difficulties, mental clarity, and confidence in cognitive functioning.
Energy and Activity
Measure vitality, physical motivation, enthusiasm, and emotional activation.
Self-Worth
Measures self-esteem, feelings of value, and negative self-perception.
Emotional Distress
Measures sadness, crying, emotional overwhelm, and depressive emotional experiences.

The GDS is commonly used in geriatric psychology, psychiatry, primary healthcare, community screening, nursing care, and aging research settings. The questionnaire is intended as a screening instrument and should not be used as a standalone diagnostic tool.

Procedure

Participants answer each question based on how they have been feeling recently.

Responses are provided using simple “Yes” or “No” options to reduce cognitive burden and improve accessibility for older adults.

Participants are encouraged to answer honestly according to their usual emotional experience, motivation, thoughts, and daily functioning.

Participation

This assessment is intended primarily for older adults and is designed for educational, screening, and research purposes only.

Results should not be considered a clinical diagnosis or substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric, neurological, or medical evaluation.

Individuals experiencing persistent sadness, hopelessness, emotional distress, social isolation, suicidal thoughts, or major changes in daily functioning are strongly encouraged to seek support from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.

Scoring & Interpretation

Responses are scored according to depressive symptom presence. Certain items are reverse-scored to reflect positive emotional functioning and life satisfaction.

Higher scores generally indicate stronger depressive symptoms, emotional distress, hopelessness, reduced motivation, and social withdrawal.

The GDS is commonly used as a screening tool to help identify older adults who may benefit from additional psychological or medical evaluation.

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Questionnaire

Instructions & Terms

Below is the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), a digitally adapted 30- items self-assessment questionnaire. This assessment does not provide a clinical diagnosis, medical determination, or substitute for professional psychological evaluation.

Question 1 of 30 Life Satisfaction

Are you basically satisfied with your life?


Question 2 of 30 Interest and Motivation

Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?


Question 3 of 30 Life Satisfaction

Do you feel that your life is empty?


Question 4 of 30 Emotional Well-Being

Do you often get bored?


Question 5 of 30 Hopelessness

Are you hopeful about the future?


Question 6 of 30 Anxiety and Worry

Are you bothered by thoughts you can’t get out of your head?


Question 7 of 30 Emotional Well-Being

Are you in good spirits most of the time?


Question 8 of 30 Anxiety and Worry

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


Question 9 of 30 Emotional Well-Being

Do you feel happy most of the time?


Question 10 of 30 Hopelessness

Do you often feel helpless?


Question 11 of 30 Anxiety and Worry

Do you often get restless and fidgety?


Question 12 of 30 Social Withdrawal

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


Question 13 of 30 Anxiety and Worry

Do you frequently worry about the future?


Question 14 of 30 Cognitive Concerns

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


Question 15 of 30 Life Satisfaction

Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?


Question 16 of 30 Emotional Well-Being

Do you often feel downhearted and blue?


Question 17 of 30 Self-Worth

Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?


Question 18 of 30 Anxiety and Worry

Do you worry a lot about the past?


Question 19 of 30 Interest and Motivation

Do you find life very exciting?


Question 20 of 30 Interest and Motivation

Is it hard for you to get started on new projects?


Question 21 of 30 Energy and Activity

Do you feel full of energy?


Question 22 of 30 Hopelessness

Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?


Question 23 of 30 Self-Worth

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


Question 24 of 30 Emotional Distress

Do you frequently get upset over little things?


Question 25 of 30 Emotional Distress

Do you frequently feel like crying?


Question 26 of 30 Cognitive Concerns

Do you have trouble concentrating?


Question 27 of 30 Energy and Activity

Do you enjoy getting up in the morning?


Question 28 of 30 Social Withdrawal

Do you prefer to avoid social gatherings?


Question 29 of 30 Cognitive Concerns

Is it easy for you to make decisions?


Question 30 of 30 Cognitive Concerns

Is your mind as clear as it used to be?




Psychometric Norms

2
Participants
52%
Community Mean
1.5%
Sample SD
53%
Highest Observed Score
50%
Lowest Observed Score
2026–2026
Collection Period

Current normative data for theCurrent normative data for the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) are derived from 2 anonymous participant responses collected through TraitProfiler between 2026 and 2026. All response data are collected anonymously and are intended exclusively for educational, psychometric, and non-commercial research purposes.

Sources
  1. Yesavage, J. A., Brink, T. L., Rose, T. L., Lum, O., Huang, V., Adey, M., & Leirer, V. O. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report.