What your GDS-15 score really means (depression screening for older adults)

You answered 15 yes/no questions about how you've been feeling and got a score between 0 and 15. The GDS-15 (Geriatric Depression Scale) was designed specifically for older adults. Here's what your score means—and why this assessment matters.

The quick answer

A score of 5 or higher suggests depression and warrants follow-up. Scores of 10 or higher are almost always indicative of clinical depression.

Why there's a special test for older adults

Depression looks different as we age. The common symptoms we associate with depression—trouble sleeping, low energy, poor appetite, aches and pains—are also common in older adults without depression. They can be caused by medical conditions, medications, or simply the aging process itself.

The GDS-15 was designed to solve this problem. It deliberately avoids physical symptoms and focuses on how you feel emotionally and mentally:

- Are you satisfied with your life?
- Do you feel happy most of the time?
- Do you feel hopeless about your situation?
- Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy?

This approach helps distinguish between depression and the physical challenges that often come with aging.

What the 15 questions cover

The questions fall into a few categories:

Life satisfaction and happiness (Questions 1, 5, 7, 11)
- Are you satisfied with your life?
- Are you in good spirits most of the time?
- Do you feel happy most of the time?
- Do you think it's wonderful to be alive?

Withdrawal and loss of interest (Questions 2, 3, 4, 9)
- Have you dropped activities and interests?
- Does your life feel empty?
- Do you often get bored?
- Do you prefer staying home over going out?

Hopelessness and helplessness (Questions 6, 8, 14)
- Are you afraid something bad will happen?
- Do you often feel helpless?
- Do you feel your situation is hopeless?

Self-worth (Questions 12, 15)
- Do you feel worthless?
- Do you think most people are better off than you?

Energy and memory (Questions 10, 13)
- Do you feel full of energy?
- Do you have more memory problems than most?

Some questions are worded positively (answering "yes" is healthy) and some negatively (answering "no" is healthy). This mix helps get an accurate picture.

What to do based on your score

Score 0-4 (normal range)

Your answers don't suggest depression. This doesn't mean life is perfect—it means you're not showing signs of clinical depression right now. Normal ups and downs are different from depression.

Score 5-8 (mild depression possible)

You may have mild depressive symptoms. Consider:
- Mentioning this to your doctor at your next visit
- Monitoring how you feel over the next few weeks
- Staying connected with family and friends
- Engaging in activities you enjoy, even if motivation is low

Score 9-11 (moderate depression likely)

Your score suggests moderate depression. This is common in older adults and treatable. Consider:
- Scheduling an appointment with your doctor soon
- Discussing whether counseling, medication, or both might help
- Not dismissing these feelings as "just getting old"

Score 12-15 (severe depression)

This score indicates significant depression requiring professional attention:
- Contact your doctor or a mental health provider
- Don't wait to see if it improves on its own
- If you answered "no" to question 11 (is it wonderful to be alive) or "yes" to question 14 (situation is hopeless), please talk to someone about these feelings

Depression in older adults is undertreated

Here's an important reality: depression in older adults is common, serious, and often goes unrecognized.

Common: About 15% of adults 65 and older experience significant depressive symptoms. In nursing homes, it's higher.

Serious: Late-life depression is associated with:
- Reduced quality of life
- Impaired physical health
- Slower recovery from illness
- Higher mortality

Undertreated: Many older adults don't get help because:
- They attribute symptoms to aging ("I'm just getting old")
- They grew up when mental health was stigmatized
- Medical conditions mask or complicate depression
- Healthcare providers focus on physical complaints

Your GDS-15 score is valuable information. If it suggests depression, that's worth taking seriously.

Common questions

I have several medical conditions. Won't those make my score higher?

That's actually why the GDS-15 exists. Unlike other depression tests, it deliberately avoids physical symptoms. Your score reflects your mood and outlook, not your medical problems.

I'm grieving a loss. Does that explain my score?

Grief is a normal response to loss and can look like depression. If you've recently lost a spouse, family member, or close friend, some elevation is expected. However, prolonged or severe grief that doesn't improve over months may become clinical depression requiring treatment.

My score was 4, just below the cutoff. Should I be concerned?

Cutoffs are somewhat arbitrary. Someone scoring 4 and someone scoring 5 aren't fundamentally different. If you're struggling despite a "normal" score, trust your experience. The score is information, not the final word.

Can I take this test for my parent or spouse?

The GDS-15 is designed as a self-report. If you're completing it on behalf of someone else, your observations may differ from their experience. For older adults who can't reliably self-report (due to dementia, for example), there are other assessments designed to be completed by caregivers.

Why are some questions worded positively and others negatively?

This is intentional. If all questions were negative ("Do you feel sad? Do you feel hopeless?"), some people would answer "no" to everything regardless of how they actually feel. Mixing positive and negative questions gets a more accurate picture.

Important notes about two questions

Question 11: "Do you think it is wonderful to be alive?"

Answering "no" to this question warrants attention. While it doesn't directly ask about suicide, it may indicate feelings that deserve follow-up.

Question 14: "Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?"

Answering "yes" here also warrants discussion with a healthcare provider. Hopelessness is both a symptom of depression and a risk factor for more serious concerns.

If either of these responses describes you, please talk to someone—your doctor, a family member, or a crisis line (988 in the US).

This test doesn't replace a diagnosis

The GDS-15 screens for depression—it doesn't diagnose it. A high score means "further evaluation is needed," not "you have depression." A low score means "depression is unlikely," not "you're definitely fine."

If your score concerns you, the next step is talking with a healthcare provider who can:
- Conduct a more thorough evaluation
- Rule out medical causes of your symptoms
- Discuss treatment options if depression is present

Tracking over time

The GDS-15 is useful for monitoring:

- Change of 2+ points: Represents meaningful change
- Treatment response: Take every 2-4 weeks during active treatment
- Long-term monitoring: Quarterly in residential care settings

Seeing your score improve is encouraging. Seeing it worsen is a signal to seek help.

The bottom line

Your GDS-15 score reflects depressive symptoms designed to be measured accurately in older adults, without confusion from physical health problems. Scores of 0-4 suggest normal mood. Scores of 5 or higher suggest possible depression worth discussing with a healthcare provider. Depression in older adults is common and treatable—a high score is not a character flaw or an inevitable part of aging. It's a signal that help might be beneficial.

Related assessments

- PHQ-9 — General depression screening (includes physical symptoms)
- GAD-7 — Anxiety screening (often co-occurs with depression)
- PHQ-2 — Ultra-brief 2-question depression screen