The Sensitivity and Specificity of Depression Screening Tools Among Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

This study describes the validity and the sensitivity and specificity of depression screening tools among adults with intellectual and disabilities (ID). Subjects (N = 75) were interviewed with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Glasgow Depression Scale for People with a Learning Disability (GDS-LD) and also completed a clinical interview with the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities 10 (PAS-ADD 10). Comparing screening results to clinical interview, the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve of the BDI-II is 0.90 and of the GDS-LD is 0.90. The sensitivity for the BDI-II is 89% and specificity 82% (score = 11). The sensitivity of the GDS-LD is 89% and specificity 82% (score = 13). Sensitivity and specificity are sufficient to identify individuals with ID who need depression treatment referral and who are suitable to participate in depression intervention research.

KEYWORDS:

• intellectual disability
• depression screening
• sensitivity and specificity
• Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)
• Glasgow Depression Scale for People with a Learning Disability (GDS-LD)