Beschreibung:
<jats:p><jats:italic>Aim</jats:italic>. The objective of our study has been to evaluate the WHO-5 as a new early screening instrument for apathy in a group of elderly persons.<jats:italic>Methods</jats:italic>. The WHO-5 was compared to the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The GDS contains five items measuring well-being and ten items measuring depression. The internal validity of the WHO-5 (total score being a sufficient statistic) was evaluated with both parametric and nonparametric item response theory models. The external validity of the WHO-5 and the GDS was evaluated by ROC using depression as index of validity.<jats:italic>Results</jats:italic>. The item response theory analyses confirmed that the total score of the WHO-5 is a sufficient statistic. The ROC analysis shows an adequate sensitivity (61%) and specificity (84%). The GDS<jats:sub>15</jats:sub>and its two subscales obtained low sensitivity (25–42%), but high specificity (90–98%).<jats:italic>Conclusion</jats:italic>. The WHO-5 was found both internally and externally valid when considering decreased positive well-being to be an early indication of apathy reflecting that the wind has begun to be taken out of the “motivation sail.”</jats:p>