Prevalence of depressed mood and loss of interest among community‐dwelling older people: Large‐scale questionnaire survey and visiting intervention

Abstract

Aim Late‐life depression is identified less often by general practitioners than depression in younger adults, but failure to have late‐life depression recognized in a primary care setting can have fatal consequences. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of depressed mood and loss of interest, and identify associated factors among community‐dwelling older adults in a large‐scale study. Methods A questionnaire was mailed to all residents (n = 132 005) aged ≥65 years in one Tokyo district. The questionnaire asked about depressed mood and loss of interest. It also included items measuring sociodemographic variables, physical health‐related variables, psychological variables, socioeconomic variables, attitude to the community and the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community‐based Integrated Care System ‐ 21 items. Result In total, 19.5% of community‐dwelling older people had experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest during the past month. This group also showed increased frailty and a negative attitude towards the community, and were less likely to be economically disadvantaged (although more likely to have had a childhood economic disadvantage). The multivariate analysis showed that increased frailty had the strongest relationship with depressed mood. Survey respondents who had either of these conditions were more likely to receive support from the community‐based integrated support center. Conclusions The present study showed a high prevalence of depressed mood and loss of interest among older people. Frailty was a significant factor, suggesting that collaboration is essential between primary care geriatrics and geriatric psychiatry. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1567–1572.

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