Psychometric properties of the Gotland Scale for Depression in Italian psychiatric inpatients and its utility in the prediction of suicide risk

BACKGROUND: Rutz has postulated a "male depressive syndrome" measured by the Gotland Scale of Male Depression (GSMD). The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the GSMD in a sample of male and female psychiatric inpatients. METHODS: The sample was composed of 326 Italian inpatients who completed the GSMD and the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). RESULTS: Our results indicated that all the items of the GSMD, except item #13, were highly interrelated, and that the first 12 items of the GSMD may be considered a homogeneous measure of depression. Furthermore, GSMD scores did not differ by sex. The GSMD had good convergent validity with the BHS and was useful in categorizing individuals admitted for a suicide attempt committed in the last 48h vs. those who had not. LIMITATIONS: The study was retrospective in nature and did not assess the ability of the GSMD for predicting future suicidal behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The GSMD may be considered to be a valid instrument for measuring non-typical ("suicidality-related") symptoms of depression in both male and female patients