Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia

Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia

Assessment of depression in association with dementia administered by the patients primary care caregiver. A score of 8 or higher suggests significant depression. It is the most reliable scale to assess mood in the presence of cognitive impairment.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia

A scoring system specifically developed to assess signs and symptoms of major depression in patients with dementia. The 19 parameters measured are clustered into five groups: mood-related signs, behavioural disturbances, physical signs, cyclic functions and ideational disturbances. The CSDD has been shown to be sensitive, reliable and valid for assessing depression in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Because some patients may give unreliable reports, the CSDD uses a comprehensive interviewing approach that derives information both from the patient and an informant who has frequent contact with the patient. Information is elicited through two semi-structured interviews: an interview with an informant and an interview with the patient. The interviews focus on depressive symptoms and signs occurring during the week preceding the interview. Each item is rated for severity on a scale of 0–2 (0=absent, 1=mild or intermittent, 2=severe). The item scores are added. Scores above 10 indicate a probable major depression; scores above 18 indicate a definite major depression; scores below 6 as a rule are associated with absence of significant depressive symptoms.

Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia
Mood-related signs
• Anxiety;
• Sadness;
• Lack of reaction to pleasant events;
• Irritability.

Behavioural disturbances
• Agitation;
• Retardation of movement, speech, reactions;
• Physical complaints—e.g., indigestion, constipation, muscle aches;
• Acute loss of interest.

Physical signs
• Appetite loss;
• Weight loss;
• Lack of energy.
 
Cyclic function
• Diurnal variation of mood;
• Difficulty falling asleep;
• Multiple awakenings during sleep;
• Early morning awakenings.

Ideational disturbances
• Suicidal ideation;
• Self-deprecation;
• Pessism;
• Mood-congruent delusions.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.