Rating scales used to assess depressive symptoms in the elderly population are reviewed & critiqued in this article. Although advantages & limitations are noted for the scales reviewed, no scale is felt to be useful in all clinical situations or in sample populations. The Geriatric Depression Scale has been the best validated among the elderly; however, it may not be useful in the moderately to severely cognitively impaired elderly, & there has been little research in its ability to detect symptom changes over time in the context of clinical trials. (59 refs.)