scholarly journals Screening for depressive symptoms in older adults in the Family Health Strategy, Porto Alegre, Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 368-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Lopes Nogueira ◽  
Leonardo Librelotto Rubin ◽  
Sara de Souza Giacobbo ◽  
Irenio Gomes ◽  
Alfredo Cataldo Neto

OBJECTIVE To analyze the prevalence of depression in older adults and associated factors. METHODS Cross-sectional study using a stratified random sample of 621 individuals aged ≥ 60 from 27 family health teams in Porto Alegre, RS, Southern Brazil, between 2010 and 2012. Community health agents measured depression using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Scores of ≥ 6 were considered as depression and between 11 and 15 as severe depression. Poisson regression was used to search for independent associations of sociodemographic and self-perceived health with both depression and its severity. RESULTS The prevalence of depression was 30.6% and was significantly higher in women (35.9% women versus 20.9% men, p < 0.001). The variables independently associated with depression were: female gender (PR = 1.4, 95%CI 1.1;1.8); low education, especially illiteracy (PR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.2;2 6); regular self-rated health (OR = 2.2, 95%CI 1.6;3.0); and poor/very poor self-rated health (PR = 4.0, 95%CI 2.9;5.5). Except for education, the strength of association of these factors increases significantly in severe depression. CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of depression was observed in the evaluations conducted by community health agents, professionals who are not highly specialized. The findings identified using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale in this way are similar to those in the literature, with depression more associated with low education, female gender and worse self-rated health. From a primary health care strategic point of view, the findings become still more relevant, indicating that community health agents could play an important role in identifying depression in older adults.

Nutrients ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Yurie Mikami ◽  
Keiko Motokawa ◽  
Maki Shirobe ◽  
Ayako Edahiro ◽  
Yuki Ohara ◽  
...  

One prominent factor associated with malnutrition is poor appetite. In Japan, the number of older adults living alone has increased annually. Those living alone tended to eat alone, which may lead to poor appetite. This study aimed to investigate the association between eating alone and poor appetite using an index called the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ). We surveyed 818 people aged 70 and over in Takashimadaira, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan, in 2016. Comparisons were made between two groups, a poor appetite group (n = 295) and a good appetite group (n = 523), and results indicate that the poor appetite group had a higher rate of eating alone than the good appetite group (38.0% vs. 20. 1%: p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression (OR; 95%CI) was performed and poor appetite was significantly associated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score (1.707; 1.200–2.427), the number of medications (1.061; 1.007–1.118), JST score (0.894; 0.841–0.950), the indication of “very healthy” on a self-rated health scale (0.343; 0.152–0.774), and reports of eating alone (1.751; 1.130–2.712). Our results suggest that eating alone is associated with a poor appetite.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Special2) ◽  
pp. 395-401
Author(s):  
Ann Mary Thomas ◽  
Babita Susan ◽  
Jacob Davies Kalliath ◽  
Vinu Cherian ◽  
Brilly M Rose ◽  
...  

Background: Elderly constitutes a vulnerable group for depression, as they are especially prone to suffer adverse consequences of a depressive episode and have greater rates of completed suicides. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and determinants of geriatric depression.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was done among 250 elderlies from 1st January 2019 to 1st January 2020 in the different rural blocks of Ernakulam district, India. The multistage sampling technique and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) were used to collect the data. A score of 0 9 is considered "normal", 10 19 is labeled as "mildly depressed", and 20 30 as "severely depressed". Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS software. The Chi-square test /Fisher's exact test was used to study the association between the socio-demographic and behavioral variables with depression. Results: The mean age was 69.33 ± 7.41years and male: female ratio was 0.55: 1.The overall prevalence of depression was 52.4%. Advanced age over 70years [OR=2.04;95% CI, 1.227 – 3.394; P=0.006], female gender[OR=2.844;95% CI,1.663-4.865; P =<0.001], lack of gainful employment [OR=3.504; 95% CI, 1.833–6.699; P =<0.001], physical dependence [OR=0.365;95% CI,0.162–0.821; P =0.012], financial dependence [OR=0.388; 95% CI, 0.219–0.687; P =<0.001], presence of medical co morbidities [OR=0.428; 95% CI, 0.212–0.866; P =0.016],poor lifestyle including the lack of regular exercise [OR =2.020; 95% CI,1.174–3.473; P =0.010], addiction to alcohol [OR=4.932;95%CI,1.600-15.208; P =0.004] and addiction to tobacco smoking [OR=2.905;95%CI,1.273-6.628; P =0.009] and poor family support [OR= 5.180;95% CI,716–15.636; P = 0.002] were found to be significantly associated with depression. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among the elderlies was high, and hence early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to reduce its burden in the community.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (03) ◽  
pp. 442-1446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Sarkar ◽  
Shivananand Kattimani ◽  
Gautam Roy ◽  
K. C. Premarajan ◽  
Siddharth Sarkar

ABSTRACT Background: Local language screening instruments can be helpful in early assessment of depression in the elderly in the community and primary care population. This study describes the validation of a Tamil version of Geriatric Depression Scale (short form 15 [GDS-15] item) in a rural population. Materials and Methods: A Tamil version of GDS-15 was developed using standardized procedures. The questionnaire was applied in a sample of elderly (aged 60 years and above) from a village in South India. All the participants were also assessed for depression by a clinical interview by a psychiatrist. Results: A total of 242 participants were enrolled, 64.9% of them being females. The mean score on GDS-15 was 7.4 (±3.4), while the point prevalence of depression was 6.2% by clinical interview. The area under the receiver-operator curve was 0.659. The optimal cut-off for the GDS in this sample was found at 7/8 with sensitivity and specificity being 80% and 47.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The Tamil version of GDS-15 can be a useful screening instrument for assessment of depression in the elderly population.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 950-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Betts Adams

ABSTRACTBackground: In light of inconsistencies in cut points for identifying non-major depression, this study examined the classification efficiency of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS and GDS-15) total scores and individual items, and four additional depressive symptoms for identification of subthreshold, minor, or criterion depression among 166 vulnerable residents of congregate housing.Methods: Depression (combined categories of major depressive episode, minor, or subthreshold depression) was determined by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) diagnostic interview depression module administered by telephone to 166 older residents of congregate housing facilities who also completed the 30-item GDS and four other yes/no potential indicators of geriatric depression. Classification agreement and ROC curve analysis for the full and 15-item GDS scale scores were calculated. Individual item hit rates for MINI criterion were calculated for GDS items and four new items.Results: GDS and GDS-15 at standard cut points had 70–75% agreement with MINI. Best sensitivity and specificity were obtained at lower than standard cut points. Some GDS Withdrawal, Apathy, lack of Vigor (WAV) and cognitive items obtained very low hit rates. New items “I just don't feel like myself” and “I feel I am a burden to others” better discriminated MINI depression than most GDS items and had good item-to-total correlations with the GDS.Conclusions: Diagnostic criteria and GDS screen had partial agreement. Some GDS items did not adequately represent depression among functionally impaired or oldest old older adults. Feeling one is a burden and the sense of feeling “different” from usual may be useful indicators of depression among vulnerable older adults.


Author(s):  
Αντωνία Χατζηευφραιμίδου ◽  
Δέσποινα Μωραΐτου ◽  
Γεωργία Παπαντωνίου ◽  
Έλενα Ναζλίδου ◽  
Κρυσταλλία Πάντσιου

Η παρούσα έρευνα αποσκοπούσε να εξετάσει τη σχέση ηλικίας - κοινωνικής νόησης.<br />Το δείγμα αποτελούνταν από 72 άτομα, ηλικίας 20 ως 82 ετών, κατανεμημένα σε<br />τρεις ομάδες ηλικίας: τους «Νέους Ενήλικες» (Μ.Ο. = 25 έτη, Τ.Α. = 3.7 έτη), τους<br />«Μεσήλικες» (Μ.Ο. = 51.2 έτη, Τ.Α. = 7.5 έτη) και τους «Ηλικιωμένους» (Μ.Ο. =<br />72.1 έτη, Τ.Α. = 4.9 έτη). Οι τρεις ομάδες ήταν εξισωμένες ως προς το φύλο και το<br />μορφωτικό επίπεδο. Στους συμμετέχοντες χορηγήθηκε η Δοκιμασία Κοινωνικού<br />Συμπερασμού (Απλός) [ΔΚΣ(Α). Social Inference (Minimal) – SI(M): Part 2 of the<br />ΤΑSIT, McDonald, Flanagan,Rollins &amp; Kinch, 2003], η οποία εξετάζει εάν ο<br />συμμετέχοντας κατανοεί το σαρκασμό και μπορεί να τον διακρίνει από την<br />ειλικρίνεια. Στην ομάδα των ηλικιωμένων χορηγήθηκαν επιπλέον η Δοκιμασία<br />Σύντομης Γνωστικής Εκτίμησης (ΔΣΓΕ, Mini Mental State Examination, MMSE,<br />Folstein, Folstein, &amp; McHugh, 1975, προσαρμογή στον ελληνικό πληθυσμό:<br />Fountoulakis, Tsolaki, Chatzi &amp; Kazis, 2000) και η Γηριατρική Κλίμακα<br />Κατάθλιψης-15 (ΓΚΚ-15, Geriatric Depression Scale–15, GDS-15, Yesavage, et al.,<br />1982-1983, προσαρμογή στον ελληνικό πληθυσμό: Fountoulakis, Tsolaki, Iacovides,<br />et al., 1999). Τα αποτελέσματα για τους ηλικιωμένους έδειξαν ότι όσο πιο χαμηλή η<br />βαθμολογία στη ΔΣΓΕ και όσο πιο υψηλή στη ΓΚΚ-15, τόσο χαμηλότερη η επίδοση<br />στη ΔΚΣ(Α). Για το σύνολο του δείγματος, τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν πως η ηλικία<br />2<br />συνδέεται αρνητικά με την ικανότητα κατανόησης του σαρκασμού και η αυτο-<br />αναφερόμενη υπερχοληστεριναιμία αποτελεί επιβαρυντικό παράγοντα στην<br />παραπάνω σχέση.


Retos ◽  
2017 ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Lisbet Guillen Pereira ◽  
Egar Bueno Fernandez ◽  
Manuel Gutierrez Cruz ◽  
José Ramón Guerra Santiesteban

El artículo se enfoca en el análisis de un programa de actividades físicas y su efecto en la mejora de los niveles de depresión y bienestar subjetivo de adultos mayores. Se utiliza un diseño experimental con pre y pos tratamiento en una muestra de 111 adultos mayores seleccionado mediante criterios de inclusión, a la que se le aplicó un procedimiento de proporción de uno a tres para crear el grupo experimental y de control (n=74 grupo experimental y n=37 el grupo de control). La depresión fue medida aplicando la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de Yesavage y el bienestar subjetivo a partir de la Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Para el análisis del pre con el post tratamiento se utilizó un modelo de análisis de varianza (ANOVA) con medidas repetidas (MR). Los resultados revelaron diferencias significativas en la Depresión Geriátrica (p=.000) y del Bienestar subjetivo en cada dimensión estudiada: afectos positivos (p=.000), afectos negativos (p=.000) y agitación (p=.000), lo que se concluye que las dos variables dependientes mejoraron de manera significativa al aplicar la propuesta.Abstract: This article focuses on the analysis of a program of physical activities and its effect on reducing depression levels and on increasing subjective well-being of older adults. An experimental design with pre- and post-treatment was applied to a sample of 111 older adults selected in accordance with inclusion criteria, using a one-to-three ratio procedure to create experimental and control groups (Experimental group, n = 74; control group, n = 37). Depression was measured by means of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, whereas subjective well-being with the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. For the pre-post analysis, a variance analysis model (ANOVA) with repeated measures (MR) was used. Results revealed significant differences in Geriatric Depression (p = .001) and subjective well-being in each dimension studied: positive affects (p = .001), negative affects (p = .001) and agitation (p = .001), We can conclude that the two dependent variables improved significantly after applying the program proposed.


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