Journal ArticleDOI
Recognition of depressive symptoms in the elderly: What can help the patient and the doctor
Ioannis A. Parashos,Sophia Stamouli,Efi Rogakou,Rita Theodotou,Ioannis Nikas,Athanassios Mougias +5 more
TLDR
The inclusion in public campaigns of activities with an experiential dimension, e.g., patient videos and the use of a very simple screening tool, such as the GDS‐4 scale by general practitioners (GP), could be helpful in improving the recognition of depressive symptoms by the patient and his/her relatives and its diagnosis by the doctor.Abstract:
The general public heavily underrecognizes depression and depressive symptoms. This underrecognition is more pronounced among elderly people, and this study is an initial attempt to quantify the problem in a Greek elderly sample. Additionally the authors attempt to identify patient-related factors, which can assist a subject to recognize the depressive symptoms and the general practitioner to note their existence. Members of senior citizen centers (n = 682) participated in presentations about “depression in the elderly” and completed a questionnaire including the GDS-4 scale, four questions concerning depression risk factors and a question concerning a recent visit to a physician for depressive symptoms. Amongst those participating, 35.8% presented depressive symptoms (GDS-4 ≥ 2). The calculated rate for recognition of depression in the studied population was very low (17.3%). Patients with depressive symptoms were more often females and had a higher proportion of past history of depression and a lack of social support. Patients with a past history of depression and more severe forms of illness consulted a doctor more frequently. Finally, subjects suffering from depressive symptoms and comorbid medical illness were characterized by a higher proportion of past history, lack of support, and existence of multiple risk factors. The authors propose that the inclusion in public campaigns of activities with an experiential dimension, e.g., patient videos and the use of a very simple screening tool, such as the GDS-4 scale by general practitioners (GP), could be helpful in improving the recognition of depressive symptoms by the patient and his/her relatives and its diagnosis by the doctor. This proposition awaits formal proof in future studies. Depression and Anxiety 15:111–116, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.read more
Citations
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Journal Article
Minor and major depression and the risk of death in older persons
TL;DR: Even after adjustment for sociodemographics, health status, and health behaviors, minor depression in older men and major depression in both old men and women increase the risk of dying.
Journal ArticleDOI
Prevalence and correlates of depression in late life: a population based study from a rural Greek town.
Fotios C. Papadopoulos,Eleni Petridou,Eleni Petridou,S. Argyropoulou,Vassilis P. Kontaxakis,Nick Dessypris,Anastasia Anastasiou,Kalliopi-Penelopi Katsiardani,Dimitrios Trichopoulos,Dimitrios Trichopoulos,Constantine G. Lyketsos +10 more
TL;DR: This poster discusses depression in late life and its consequences on function, medical co‐morbidity, quality of life, and use of medical services.
Journal ArticleDOI
Outcome and impact of mental disorders in primary care at 5 years.
TL;DR: Mental disorders are common and their recognition and treatment remain low, but subthreshold disorders have a better prognosis.
Journal ArticleDOI
Dietary lipids and geriatric depression scale score among elders: the EPIC-Greece cohort.
Andreas Kyrozis,Theodora Psaltopoulou,Panos Stathopoulos,Dimitrios Trichopoulos,Dimitris Vassilopoulos,Antonia Trichopoulou +5 more
TL;DR: Among Attika elders, lower intake of seed oils and higher intake of olive oil prospectively predict a healthier affective state, and olive oil intake predicts a lower chance of scoring in the highest part of the geriatric depression scale.
Journal ArticleDOI
The roles of social support and self-efficacy in physical health's impact on depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults.
Amber L. Paukert,Jeremy W. Pettit,Mark E. Kunik,Nancy Wilson,Nancy Wilson,Diane M. Novy,Howard M. Rhoades,Anthony J. Greisinger,Oscar A. Wehmanen,Melinda A. Stanley +9 more
TL;DR: The relationship between subjective physical health and depressive symptoms was moderated by self-efficacy and social support, and the moderation effect was not as expected for social support; at high levels of socialSupport, worse physical health was associated with increased depressive affect.
References
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The Functioning and Well-Being of Depressed Patients
Kenneth B. Wells,Anita L. Stewart,Ron D. Hays,M. Audrey Burnam,William H. Rogers,Marcia Daniels,Sandra H. Berry,Sheldon Greenfield,John E. Ware +8 more
TL;DR: Depressed patients tended to have worse physical, social, and role functioning, worse perceived current health, and greater bodily pain than did patients with no chronic conditions.
Journal ArticleDOI
The functioning and well-being of depressed patients. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study
Kenneth B. Wells,Anita L. Stewart,Ron D. Hays,M. Audrey Burnam,William H. Rogers,Marcia Daniels,Sandra Berry,Sheldon Greenfield,John E. Ware +8 more
TL;DR: For example, patients with either current depressive disorder or depressive symptoms in the absence of disorder tended to have worse physical, social, and role functioning, worse perceived current health, and greater bodily pain than did patients with no chronic conditions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Short versions of the Geriatric Depression Scale: A study of their validity for the diagnosis of a Major Depressive Episode according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV
TL;DR: To determine the validity of short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) versions for the detection of a major depressive episode according to ICD‐10 criteria for research and DSM‐IV, six patients with a history of major depressive disorder were surveyed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Review of community prevalence of depression in later life.
TL;DR: A systematic review of community-based studies of the prevalence of depression in later life (55+) found consistent evidence for higher prevalence rates for women and among older people living under adverse socio-economic circumstances.
Journal ArticleDOI
Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Late Life
Arnold J. Friedhoff,James C. Ballenger,Alan S. Bellack,William T. Carpenter,Helena Chang Chui,Rose Dobrof,Joyce J. Fitzpatrick,Rudolph Freeman,George R. Heninger,Philip W. Lavori,Kathleen R. Merikangas,Raymond Raschko,Martha Storandt,Mark E. Williams,Charles F. Reynolds,Dan G. Blazer,Eric D. Caine,Burton V. Reifler,Elaine Murphy,George S. Alexopoulos,Andrew F. Leuchter,Linda K. George,Paul T. Costa,A. John Rush,Carl Salzman,James M. Perel,Harold A. Sackeim,Linda Teri,George Niederehe,Ellen Frank,Sidney Klawansky,Joel B. Greenhouse,Lon S. Schneider,Gary L. Gottlieb,Yeates Conwell,Sidney Zisook,Ira R. Katz,Barry D. Lebowitz,Marsha Corbett,Jerry M. Elliott,John H. Ferguson,James L. Fosard,William H. Hall,Jane L. Pearson +43 more
TL;DR: Since depression in late life tends to be at least as chronic and/or recurrent as depression earlier in life, treatment for acute depressive episodes should last at least 6-8 months, and long-term maintenance treatment should be considered in selected individuals.