Prevalence of depression among elderly population in rural South India

Abstract

Background: Depression among elderly is the commonest psychiatric disorder however it is commonly misdiagnosed and under treated. Most of the time it is considered as part of aging process rather than a treatable condition. Diagnosing depression in the elderly is often difficult as a result of presence of cognitive impairment as well as reluctance and denial by the elderly and their family members. Objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly rural population in South India. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted over a period of 2 months among 575 elderly people aged 60 years and above in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care hospital in south India using a pre validated Geriatric Depression Scale. Data entered and analysed using MS Excel.Results: 77.56% of the study participants were found to be depressed. Among them 74.66% were mild depressive and 25.34% had severe depression. Depression was common in elderly males as compared to females. The prevalence of depression was higher in those who live single and those living with their children without their spouse and those with co morbidities.Conclusions: Prevalence of depression among elderly is high in rural areas. It also increases as the age increases. Early identification and timely intervention would promote healthy old age.

Depression and Associated Factors Among Older Adults in a North Indian State: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is consistent with previous epidemiological reports, which indicate that elderly females are more likely to be diagnosed with unipolar depression and report greater symptoms of depression than their male counterparts [ 14 , 20 ]. However, there are also studies that show the opposite trend, suggesting that depression is more common among males [ 7 , 21 ]. One study conducted by Paĺsson et al examined the initial occurrence of depressive episodes in a longitudinal sample, which was tested every five years between the ages of 70 and 85.…”

“…The aging process can negatively impact mental health, as the elderly must not only deal with physical aging but also address challenges affecting their mental and social wellbeing. Factors such as disability from illness, loneliness, lack of family support, limited personal autonomy, and financial dependency can contribute to an increase in mental health issues, particularly depression [6][7][8].…”

Childhood abuse as a mediator of the relationship between early family socio-economic status and geriatric depression: A population-based study in China

“…Meanwhile, individuals with higher education were more likely to have life skills and resources needed for promoting health and thus have a lower risk of depressive symptoms as revealed in a previous study [ 68 ]. Aging has been considered to have an important detrimental effect on mental health and the prevalence of depression could increase with age due to economic and physical dependency, loss of the company, and self-esteem [ 69 , 70 ]. However, no significant relationship between age and depression symptoms was found in our study.…”