Factor analysis of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale in American Indian women.
Jada L Brooks, Leslie B Adams, Cheryl L Woods-Giscombé and 2 others
PMID 36161722WHAT IT FOUND
When screening for depression in American Indian women, do not rely on the CES-D total score.
The scale breaks into four distinct symptom groups, suggesting providers should look at which specific symptoms a patient reports rather than assuming a single overall score tells the whole story.
Key findings
01The four-factor structure of the CES-D provided the best fit for this sample of American Indian women.
02The items grouped differently than in the original scale design, spreading across factors like distracted thoughts, sadness, and mixed affect.
03The CES-D is a screening tool for populations, not a clinical diagnostic instrument.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (150 participants) and drawn from a single tribe, so these results may not apply to other American Indian populations or genders. The researchers could not split the data to confirm their findings on a separate group of people. The CES-D is designed for population screening, not for clinical diagnosis, limiting its direct application in a treatment setting.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by NIH and U.S. Government non-PHS grants.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the CES-D total score accurately reflects the severity of depression in this population. The study found that the questions group into distinct symptom types rather than a single overall score, and the tool itself is not a diagnostic instrument.