Depression is a common problem in geriatric patients due to multiple causes. It is measured by a number of scoring systems. We screened 500 patients for depression with 2 scoring scales [Geriatric depression scale–4 (GDS 4) & Geriatric depression scale –15(GDS 15)].We observed that by GDS– 4 scale, 31.2 % of the patients in the study were depressed and when the same patients were interrogated immediately afterwards by using GDS–15 scale, 30.6 % patients were found to be depressed. Appropriate statistical analysis suggests that the two scales (GDS– 4 & GDS–15) give comparable results. The GDS–15 scale recording takes twice the time as compared to GDS– 4. Hence for screening purposes, GDS– 4 scale appears to be adequate, especially in a busy OPD or a health camp.