Depression is often occurred after surgical interventions and may have serious consequences on postoperative recovery. The treatment of early discovered depressive symptoms may have strong influence on the recovery of operated orthopedic patients.

Simple and quick instrument for detection and evaluation of depressive symptoms could be of great use to doctors.

Work objectives are

1) determine the prevalence of depressiveness in preoperative period in patients with scheduled surgical interventions, and

2) validation of Geriatric Depression Scale - short form (GDS-SF) in detection of depressiveness.

A sample of 120 orthopedic patients is the part of larger sample in prospective research of depressiveness in patients in preoperative period with scheduled surgical interventions (except cardio-surgical). For estimation of depressiveness we used battery of tests (GDS-SF, BDI - Beck's depression scale, MDI - major depressive disorder questionnaire), and patients were tested 3 times: to 14 days prior the surgery, 7 and 90 days after the surgery. Validation of GDS-SF was examined compared to BDI according to age and gender of examinees.

In preliminary sample of 120 orthopedic patients with scheduled orthopedic interventions, prevalence of depressiveness is greater than prevalence of depressiveness in general population (p < 0.001). Depressiveness is much more present in women than in men (p < 0.001). Correlation of depressive scores in BDI and in GDS-SF is satisfactory for all age groups.

Preliminary results indicate on further research of depressiveness in preoperative period in order to confirm validation of GDS-SF as simpler alternative for early detection of depressiveness.