Psychometric Properties of the Dutch Version of the Signs of Depression Scale

The early detection of depression after stroke is essential for the optimization of recovery in aphasic stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Signs of Depression Scale (SODS), a non-language-based screening instrument. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of 58 stroke patients in a rehabilitation center. The internal consistency and interrater reliability were good (α =.71 and intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] =.79). The pre-defined hypotheses confirmed the construct validity, and the correlation between the SODS and the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9) was moderate (r_b =.32). At a cutoff score of ≥1, the sensitivity was 0.80, and the specificity was 0.39. These findings indicate that the SODS is appropriate to screen for depressive symptoms and can be used by nurses to identify symptoms of depression in patients with aphasia who require further assessment.