RESUMOA depressão é considerada um problema de saúde pública e representa o distúrbio psiquiátrico mais comum na população idosa, apresentando maior prevalência entre os idosos institucionalizados. O enfermeiro como integrante da equipe multidisciplinar de saúde nas Instituições de Longa Permanência (ILPIs), possui um elo fundamental na triagem da ocorrência da depressão neste público. Através da utilização da Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (EDG) como instrumento assistencial, é capaz identificar as manifestações clínicas da doença e controlar os eventos adversos resultantes da mesma, os quais interferem significativamente na qualidade de vida dos idosos. O Palavras-chave: Depressão, Idoso institucionalizado, Escala de Depressão Geriátrica, Enfermeiro.
ABSTRACTDepression is considered a public health problem and represents the most common psychiatric disorder in the elderly population, with a higher prevalence among institutionalized elderly people. The nurse as a member of the multidisciplinary health team in Long Term Care Institutions (LTCFs), has a fundamental link in screening for the occurrence of depression in this public. Through the use of the Geriatric Depression Scale (EDG) as an assistance tool, it is able to identify the clinical manifestations of the disease and control the adverse events resulting from it, which significantly interfere with the quality of life of the elderly. The general objective of this article is to list the importance of the use of EDG by nurses in the screening of depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly. With a specific objective, to highlight how the applicability of this instrument is going on in clinical practice. The methodological design of this study constitutes an integrative literature review, carried out through articles available in the databases: VHL and SCIELO, using as descriptors: Depression, Elderly; Nursing and Geriatric Depression Scale. The bibliographic survey was carried out from January to May 2019, obtaining 45 articles, of which 15 comprised the research. The results indicate that the use of EDG by nurses in LTCFs makes it possible to detect geriatric depression early, helping to plan interventions that contribute to the quality of life of institutionalized elderly. It is concluded that its use is easily applicable and allows the implementation of strategic measures that aim to contribute to the maintenance of mental health and general well-being in this population segment.