Author Question: What is true about instruments to assess for depression in older adults? a. Older adults tend to ... (Read 176 times)

james0929 · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

What is true about instruments to assess for depression in older adults?

a. Older adults tend to score inaccurately low (indicating less depression) than younger adults on the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale.
b. The shortened Geriatric Depression Scale does not contain a question to eval-uate suicide potential.
c. The Beck Depression Inventory is designed for gerontological patients.
d. The Geriatric Depression Scale is administered by a health care provider in an interview with the older adult

Question 2

A 78-year-old man is being evaluated in the geriatric clinic. His daughter reports that he has been very forgetful lately, and she is concerned that he might be senile. The advanced practice nurse administers the clock drawing test and the patient draws

a. probably has Alzheimer's disease
b. needs further evaluation
c. probably has delirium
d. needs a functional status assessment

Animal_Goddess · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The 15 and 5 item Geriatric Depression Scales do not include an assessment item focused on the suicidal intent or thoughts. Older adults tend to score inaccurately high (indicating more depression) than younger adults because of the number of physical complaints that are associated with aging and because of the number of frequently used medications rather than because of true depression. The Beck Depression Inventory was not designed specifically for use with gerontological patients. The Geriatric Depression Scale is administered as a self-report by the older adult.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Errors on the clock drawing test, such as grossly distorted contour, are rarely produced by cognitively intact persons. A low score on the clock drawing test requires further evaluation. Alzheimer's disease is not a diagnosis using a mental status assessment tool. It is definitively diagnosed with a brain biopsy. The clock drawing test does not assess for delirium. A low score on the clock drawing test does not necessarily warrant a functional status assessment.