A comparison of the validity of the Cornell Scale and the MADRS in detecting depression among memory clinic patients

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the validity of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) and the Montgomery-Aasberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) among memory clinic patients.

Methods: The scales were independently completed for 125 patients. The diagnosis of depression was made by psychiatrists blinded to the depression scores.

Results: The mean score of the Mini-Mental State Examination was 25.5 (SD: 4.6), of the CSDD 6.8 (SD: 4.9), and of the MADRS 8.5 (SD: 6.8). In receiver operation characteristics (ROC) analyses, the AUC for the CSDD was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.63-0.82) using the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) criteria for depression, and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.57-0.79) using the DSM-IV criteria. The AUC was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81-0.95) for the MADRS using the ICD-10 criteria, and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76-0.92) using the DSM-IV criteria.

Conclusion: Both scales are suitable as screening tools. According to the ROC analyses, the MADRS seems better at distinguishing depressed from nondepressed patients.