scholarly journals Clinical Usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale to Identify the Elderly at Risk of Suicide

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-486
Author(s):  
Hyunsuk Jeong ◽  
Beomwoo Nam ◽  
Sun-Jin Jo ◽  
Won-Chul Lee ◽  
Hyeon Woo Yim

Objective Population-based suicidal screening can be an important intervention method to reduce suicidal attempt rate in community. However, directly asking about suicidal behavior may be burdensome to non-mental health workers. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) in identifying the elderly at risk of suicide in community.Methods Nine hundred forty-eight over 60 years of age participated in this study. All participants completed the GDS-15. A trained interviewer interviewed each participant for suicidality including suicidal ideation, plan, and prior attempt using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV.Results When the cut-off score of 10 in the GDS-15 was applied to identify the elderly at risk of suicide, the proportion of directly asking about suicidal behavior by non-mental health workers was reduced by 33.1%; however, 19.5% at risk of suicide were missed. When the cut-off was changed to 6, 100% at risk of suicide were covered by the GDS-15.Conclusion Screening for suicidality using GDS-15 is a promising way to reduce the proportion of directly asking about suicidal behavior by non-mental health workers among the high-risk suicidal elderly in a community setting.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kedar Manandhar ◽  
Ajay Risal ◽  
Oshin Shrestha ◽  
Nirmala Manandhar ◽  
Dipak Kunwar ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract Background: The increasing elderly population worldwide is likely to increase mental health problems such as geriatric depression, which has mostly been studied in high-income countries. Similar studies are scarce in low-and-middle-income-countries like Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based, door-to-door survey was conducted in randomly selected rural and urban population clusters of the Kavre district, Nepal. Trained nurses (field interviewers) administered structured questionnaires that included a validated Nepali version of the Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-15) for identifying geriatric depression among the elderly (≥60 years) participants (N=460). Those scoring ≥6 on GDS-15 were considered depressed. Logistic regression analysis explored the associations of geriatric depression with regard to socio-demographic information, life style, family support and physical well-being. Results: Of the total 460 selected elderly participants, 439 (95.4%) took part in the study. More than half of them were females (54.2%). The mean age was 70.9 (± 8.6) years. Approximately half (50.6%) were rural inhabitants, the majority (86.1%) were illiterate, and about three-fifths (60.1%) were living with their spouses. The gender-and-age adjusted prevalence of geriatric depression was 53.1%. Geriatric depression was significantly associated with rural habitation (AOR 1.6), illiteracy (AOR 2.1), limited time provided by families (AOR 1.8), and exposure to verbal and/or physical abuse (AOR 2.6). Conclusion: Geriatric depression is highly prevalent in Kavre, Nepal. The findings call for urgent prioritization of delivery of elderly mental health care services in the country. Keywords: depression, elderly, lifestyle, mental health, prevalence


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kedar Manandhar ◽  
Ajay Risal ◽  
Oshin Shrestha ◽  
Nirmala Manandhar ◽  
Dipak Kunwar ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract Background: The increasing elderly population worldwide is likely to increase mental health problems such as geriatric depression, which has mostly been studied in high-income countries. Similar studies are scarce in low-and-middle-income-countries like Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based, door-to-door survey was conducted in randomly selected rural and urban population clusters of the Kavre district, Nepal. Trained nurses (field interviewers) administered structured questionnaires that included a validated Nepali version of the Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-15) for identifying geriatric depression among the elderly (≥60 years) participants (N=460). Those scoring ≥6 on GDS-15 were considered depressed. Logistic regression analysis explored the associations of geriatric depression with regard to socio-demographic information, life style, family support and physical well-being. Results: Of the total 460 selected elderly participants, 439 (95.4%) took part in the study. More than half of them were females (54.2%). The mean age was 70.9 (± 8.6) years. Approximately half (50.6%) were rural inhabitants, the majority (86.1%) were illiterate, and about three-fifths (60.1%) were living with their spouses. The gender-and-age adjusted prevalence of geriatric depression was 53.1%. Geriatric depression was significantly associated with rural habitation (AOR 1.6), illiteracy (AOR 2.1), limited time provided by families (AOR 1.8), and exposure to verbal and/or physical abuse (AOR 2.6). Conclusion: Geriatric depression is highly prevalent in Kavre, Nepal. The findings call for urgent prioritization of delivery of elderly mental health care services in the country. Keywords: depression, elderly, lifestyle, mental health, prevalence


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kedar Manandhar ◽  
Ajay Risal ◽  
Oshin Shrestha ◽  
Nirmala Manandhar ◽  
Dipak Kunwar ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract Background: The increasing elderly population worldwide is likely to increase mental health problems such as geriatric depression, which has mostly been studied in high-income countries. Similar studies are scarce in low-and-middle-income-countries like Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based, door-to-door survey was conducted in randomly selected rural and urban population clusters of the Kavre district, Nepal. Trained nurses (field interviewers) administered structured questionnaires that included a validated Nepali version of the Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-15) for identifying geriatric depression among the elderly (≥60 years) participants (N=460). Those scoring ≥6 on GDS-15 were considered depressed. Logistic regression analysis explored the associations of geriatric depression with regard to socio-demographic information, life style, family support and physical well-being. Results: Of the total 460 selected elderly participants, 439 (95.4%) took part in the study. More than half of them were females (54.2%). The mean age was 70.9 (± 8.6) years. Approximately half (50.6%) were rural inhabitants, the majority (86.1%) were illiterate, and about three-fifths (60.1%) were living with their spouses. The gender-and-age adjusted prevalence of geriatric depression was 53.1%. Geriatric depression was significantly associated with rural habitation (AOR 1.6), illiteracy (AOR 2.1), limited time provided by families (AOR 1.8), and exposure to verbal and/or physical abuse (AOR 2.6). Conclusion: Geriatric depression is highly prevalent in Kavre, Nepal. The findings call for urgent prioritization of delivery of elderly mental health care services in the country. Keywords: depression, elderly, lifestyle, mental health, prevalence


2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Areza Fegyveres ◽  
Ana Paula Formigoni ◽  
Cláudia Sellitto Porto ◽  
Maria Teresa Carthery Goulart ◽  
Mirna Lie Hosogi Senaha ◽  
...  

Abstract The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly with the Proxy (IQCODE) was developed as a screening tool for cognition alterations. Objectives: 1) To verify the applicability of IQCODE in the elderly with limited schooling, 2) To verify the reliability of the responses supplied by the aged and their proxies. Methods: Individuals of a Community Group were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), IQCODE and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The IQCODE was applied to informants and proxies. Results: We analyzed 44 individuals, aged between 58-82 years (M=66.8, SD=5.97) with mean elderly-schooling level of 3.75, SD=2.82 and 44 proxies aged 44.5 (SD=13.3), with mean schooling level of 8.25 (SD=4.3). The mean GDS was 8.22, SD=4.90 and 13 participants presented a score suggestive of depressive symptoms. The mean elderly IQCODE score was 3.26, SD=0.69 and 3.21, SD=0.65, for proxy responses. There was no statistical difference between these means. On the MMSE, the mean score was 24.20, SD=4.14 and 18 participants presented scores below the cut-off. The IQCODE answers by the elderly in this latter group were more congruent with MMSE than the answers of proxies. Conclusions: The applicability of the IQCODE in a population with little schooling was verified in that the proxy-report was similar to the elderly report. We can affirm that the elderly answers were more accurate than the proxies, as they were closer to MMSE score. The inclusion of a greater number of participants from community-dwelling settings is necessary to confirm the results obtained in this study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 677
Author(s):  
Sara Aliberti ◽  
Gaetano Raiola

Line dancing is one of the most practiced dance styles by adults and seniors due to the ease of execution of choreography. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic prolonging the restrictions of physical and sports activities, the elderly population has been forced into increased sedentariness and social isolation, resulting in the development of symptoms of depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of line dancing practice on the mental state of late second- and third-age dancers. The sample consisted of 14 Italian female dancers with an average age of 65 years old. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to verify whether 3 months of LD classes were able to produce improvements. Paired Samples T-Test and effect size were performed to test the difference between pre- and post-training protocol. The result was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Dancers improved their state of depression; in particular, they felt a better satisfaction in their life (d = 0.6), a greater interest in activities (d = 1), less boredom (d = 0.8), a good mood most of the time (d = 0.8), greater happiness throughout the day (d = 0.7), and the perception of a wonderful life (d = 0.5). Line dancing has proven to be an effective physical activity for improving the state of depression in late second- and third-age dancers.


Author(s):  
Preksha T. Singh ◽  
Shreyans D. Singhvi ◽  
Gautam Bhandari

Background: Depression is an emerging mental health condition and elderly population of the world is often affected by it. In the elderly, it often goes unnoticed and often burdens them.Methods: Two groups of population one from an old age home and the other from a community were selected. Data was collected using a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and a demographic form. The data was compiled and analyzed using Google Spreadsheets.Results: Depression rates were found in both, the old age home and the community. The rates were found higher in the old age home than the community. The demographic factors chronic illness, gender, educational status and marital status were found to be associated with depression.Conclusions: As depression in elderly is a fairly common phenomenon, it should be paid more attention. The elderly should receive intervention for the disease and be able to sustain it.


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.


1986 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Knight

The literature in mental health and aging has long argued that the presumably negative attitudes of therapists toward the aged are a major barrier to the aged receiving psychotherapy services. This investigation compared two measures of attitudes in a college student sample in order to test the reliability and validity of two commonly used measures of attitude in the general population. The same scales were then used in a sample of sixty-six mental health workers. The results suggest that Likert ratings and semantic differentials, although tapping a common dimension, differ in sensitivity to personal experience with the aged, that therapists had more positive beliefs about the elderly than did college students, and that therapist attitudes were not correlated with either proportion of elderly clients seen or desire to work with elderly. Work site emerged as an important predictor of numbers of elderly seen by therapists. It is argued that future research ought to focus on systems level variables in seeking to overcome barriers to therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-216
Author(s):  
Edison Vitório de Souza Júnior ◽  
Sterline Therrier ◽  
Cristiane dos Santos Silva ◽  
Bianca de Moura Peloso-Carvalho ◽  
Lais Reis Siqueira ◽  
...  

Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre sexualidad y variables biosociodemográficas y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores. Método: Se trata de un estudio seccional diseñado con 292 personas mayores. La recolección de datos se realizó entre agosto y octubre de 2020. Se utilizó la Escala de Experiencias Sexuales y Afectivas de Ancianos y la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica. Se utilizaron pruebas de Mann-Whitney, correlación de Spearman y pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis, adoptando un intervalo de confianza del 95% para todos los análisis estadísticos.Resultados: Predominaron los varones (52,1%) y entre 60 y 64 años (46,6%). La prevalencia de síntomas depresivos fue del 30,1% para los casos leves y del 8,6% para los graves. Los ancianos con síntomas depresivos experimentaron peor el acto sexual, las relaciones afectivas y las adversidades físicas y sociales relacionadas con la sexualidad. La única dimensión de la sexualidad que se asoció con las variables biosociodemográficas fue el acto sexual, mostrando que es mejor vivido por los ancianos en unión estable (p = 0.023) y entre quienes conviven con la pareja por un período ≤ 5 años, en comparación con los mayores de 20 años (p = 0,001). Además, solo la dimensión acto sexual se correlacionó negativamente y con magnitud moderada entre los síntomas depresivos graves (ρ = -0,442; p = 0,027), lo que indica que estas dos variables exhiben comportamientos inversamente proporcionales. Conclusión: La sexualidad se asocia con algunas variables biosociodemográficas y se correlaciona con síntomas depresivos severos en ancianos. Objective: To analyze the association of sexuality with the bio-sociodemographic variables and depressive symptomatology in the elderly. Method: This is a sectional study designed with 292 elderly people. Data were collected between August and October 2020. The Elderly Affective and Sexual Experiences Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used. Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used, adopting a 95% confidence interval for all statistical analyses.Results: The participants were predominantly male (52.1%) and aged between 60 and 64 years (46.6%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30.1% for mild cases and 8.6% for severe cases. The elderly with depressive symptomatology experienced worse the sexual act, affective relationships, and physical and social adversities related to sexuality. The only dimension of sexuality that was associated with the bio-sociodemographic variables was the "sexual act," proving to be better experienced by the elderly in stable unions (p = 0.023) and among those who live with their partner for a period ≤ 5 years, when compared to those with living together for more than 20 years (p = 0.001). In addition, only the Sexual act dimension correlated negatively and with moderate magnitude with severe depressive symptoms (ρ = -0.442; p = 0.027), indicating that these two variables present inversely proportional behaviors.Conclusion: Sexuality is associated with some bio-sociodemographic variables and correlated with severe depressive symptoms among the elderly. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a sexualidade com as variáveis biosociodemográficas e sintomatologia depressiva em idosos. Método: Trata-se de um estudo seccional delineado com 292 idosos. Realizou-se a coleta de dados entre agosto e outubro de 2020. Foi utilizada a Escala de Vivências Afetivas e Sexuais do Idoso e a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica. Utilizou-se os testes de Mann-Whitney, correlação de Spearman e Kruskal-Wallis, adotando intervalo de confiança de 95% para todas as análises estatísticas.Resultados: Predominaram-se os participantes do sexo masculino (52,1%) e com idade entre 60 e 64 anos (46,6%). A prevalência de sintomatologia depressiva foi de 30,1% para os casos leves e 8,6% para os severos. Os idosos com sintomatologias depressivas pior vivenciaram o ato sexual, as relações afetivas e as adversidades física e social relacionadas à sexualidade. A única dimensão da sexualidade que se associou com as variáveis biosociodemográficas foi o ato sexual, demonstrando ser melhor vivenciada pelos idosos em união estável (p=0,023) e entre aqueles que convivem com o parceiro por um período ≤ 5 anos, quando comparados a aqueles com convivência superior a 20 anos (p=0,001). Além disso, somente a dimensão ato sexual se correlacionou de maneira negativa e com moderada magnitude entre os sintomas depressivos severos (ρ= -0,442; p=0,027), indicando que essas duas variáveis apresentam comportamentos inversamente proporcionais.Conclusão: A sexualidade está associada à algumas variáveis biosociodemográficas e correlacionada às sintomatologias depressivas severas entre os idosos.


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