Performance of the CES-D and its Short Forms in Screening Suicidality and Hopelessness in the Community

Drawing on data from a community-based survey of 2,178 people in Hong Kong, the authors compared 5 short forms & the original version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale in predicting suicide attempts & suicide thoughts. Short forms with as few as 9 items performed in ways very similar to the full version; a version with only 5 items had a detectable difference from the full version. Sensitivity, specificity, & predictive values in differentiating people with & without suicide thought or attempt change almost linearly with the cut-offs. (33 refs.)