Barbara Caracciolo and Salvatore Giaquinto
DOI: 10.1080/165019702760279215

The criterion validity of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was evaluated among 101 orthopaedic and 50 neurological inpatients of a rehabilitation centre. The structured clinical interview for the DSMIV (SCID-I) was used as criterion. Sensitivity of the CES-D to current major depressive disorder was 100% in both groups, while specificity was 57% (95% confidence interval = 48-67, likelihood ratio = + 2. 34) in orthopaedic patients and 36% (95% confidence interval = 23-49, likelihood ratio = + 1. 56) in neurological patients. Positive predictive value of the CES-D for current major depressive disorder was 24% (95% confidence interval = 10-32, likelihood ratio = + 2. 34) in orthopaedic patients and 31% in neurological patients (95% confidence interval = 18-43, likelihood ratio = + 1. 56), while negative predictive value was 100% in both groups. When a broader range of depressive disorders was considered, sensitivity dropped to 89% (95% confidence interval = 83-95, likelihood ratio = + 3. 52) and 96% (95% confidence interval = 91-100, likelihood ratio = + 2. 21) while specificity increased to 75% (95% confidence interval = 66- 83, likelihood ratio = + 3. 52) and 57% (95% confidence interval = 43-70, likelihood ratio = + 2. 21), respectively.