Use of a Self-Report Symptom Scale to Detect Depression in a Community Sample

The CES-D, a self-report depression symptom scale and the SADS (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia) was given to 515 people in New Haven in a community survey. Diagnosis were given. Results indicate that a self-report scale can be used to detect major depression but are not efficient in detecting minor or depressive personality in the community. The group defined as “cases” by these instruments also includes people with other diagnosis or no diagnosis at all.