Abstract
Background: India is in the process of rapid
demographic progression of increased life expectancy
and aging with geriatric population of 7.2 percent
which is estimated to rise to 20 percent in 2050. With
increasing geriatric population elderly with dementia
and associated depressive illness are expected to rise in
number to almost an epidemic. Among the morbidity
encountered in elderly, depressive disorders are
common. Aim & Objectives: The present study was
conducted with the objective to assess the extent and
degree of depression in elderly, and study some
correlates associated with depression in them. Material
& Methods: The study was carried out at geriatric
clinic of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Pune under
the guidance of department of community medicine.
Methodology:The randomly selected elderly above the
age of 60 years attending the clinic and willing to
participate in study were administered the
questionnaire of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS),
scores were given, based on which the subjects were
categorized as mild, moderate and severe. Those with
score >5 were considered as suggestive of depression
and some factors studied were analysed to find out their
association with depression. Results: It was revealed
that the proportion of elderly having depression was
52.4% with 84.6% of depressed in age group of 76-80
years. Moderate to severe type was more commonly
seen in illiterate; however some degree of depression
was present in all elderly irrespective of literacy status.
Moderate to severe type was seen more commonly in
elderly living in nuclear families (23.8%), and living
alone (33.3%). Thus more than half of elderly studied
were having depression, and it was observed that as the
age advanced the degree of depression significantly
increased. Some of the factors studied like low education status, poor economic status, nuclear family
status, single status, loneliness, were associated with
depression. The GDS Scale can be considered as a tool
for early detection and prompt action. Conclusion: The
prevalence of depression in elderly is a matter of
concern. The GDS can be used as a simple, easy to use,
non-intervention based tool for early detection and
prompt action. Tackling the health related issues like
depression along with social and income security will
go a long way in adding life to their years instead of
years to life of elderly.
Citation
ID:
256656
Ref Key:
kakrani2015journalgeriatric