Self-Report Measures of Mood and Morale in Elderly Depressives

Abstract

The self-report scales of mood and morale were administered to 45 elderly in-patient depressives and 45 non-patient controls, matched for age and sex. The responses of the two groups differed significantly in the predicted direction. When 18 patients from the depressive group were re-tested 6 to 8 weeks later, at discharge, significant declines in self-reported depression, and increases in "life-satisfaction' were reported. Within the depressive group, there was a significant relationship between "overt' depressive behaviour on the ward and self-reporting of greater depressive symptoms, and lower "life-satisfaction'. The importance of independent validation of self-report measures of mood and morale in elderly populations is discussed.

Nursing Home Admission in Elderly Subjects With Dementia: Predictive Factors and Future Challenges

“…24 The presence of mood disorders or risk of depression was ascertained using the Gilleard Scale. 25 Risk of malnutrition was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form. 26 NHA was defined as an incident admission into a nursing home or a long term care facility within one year after hospitalization.…”

Dementia, depression and life satisfaction in nursing homes

“…Twenty-two per cent of the subjects (and 21% of those admitted more than three months previously) scored 14 or more on the Gilleard scale, and 18% scored at or above the mean score obtained by samples of elderly depressed inpatients in Britain (Gilleard et al, 1981). At least 73.5% of the subjects were demented.…”

Predictors of rapid cognitive decline among demented subjects aged 75 or more: (‘Sujet Agé Fragile—Evaluation et Suivi’ Cohort—SAFES)

“…Malnutrition or risk thereof was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and was defined by a score of less than 12 (Rubenstein et al, 2001). Mood disorders and risk of depression were assessed using the Schwab scale altered by Gilleard (Gilleard et al, 1981). A modified version of Charlson's index (Sundararajan et al, 2004) (applicable to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) was used to define two levels of co-morbidity: low (score ¼ 0 or 1), medium to high (score of 2 or more).…”