Abstract
Objective: To conduct an initial assessment of the reliability and validity of the Brief Assessment Schedule Depression Cards (BASDEC) and the Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) to screen for depression in older stroke survivors. Design: A prospective correlational study between self-report measures of depression and a structured clinical diagnostic interview. Setting: Four specialist rehabilitation units for older stroke survivors. Participants: 37 stroke survivors (M = 77.8, SD = 6.65 years) who had experienced a stroke within the last three months (Median: 34 days, IQR: 27-58) and had minimal cognitive impairment and dysphasia. Methods: Participants completed the BASDEC, BDI-FS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID: criterion measure of depression). Results: The BASDEC and BDI-FS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Significant associations were found between the BASDEC, BDIFS and HADS, giving convergent evidence for their validity. Further evidence for the validity of the measures was suggested by comparison with the SCID diagnosis. Scores on all the measures were significantly higher in participants who were depressed than those who were not. The BASDEC (cut-off > 7) was in excellent agreement with DSM-IV diagnosis and had high sensitivity and specificity. The BDIFS (cut-off > 4) was in moderate agreement with DSM-IV diagnosis and had low sensitivity and acceptable specificity. Conclusions: The findings present initial evidence for the reliability and validity of the BASDEC and BDI-FS as screening measures for depression in older stroke survivors. Further evaluation of the BASDEC and BDI-FS is warranted in a larger group of stroke survivors.