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Depressive Symptoms of Centenarians during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Results of an Exploratory Study in Switzerland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

C. Gomes Da Rocha ,
A. Von Gunten ,
K. Uittenhove ,
C. Lampraki ,
S. Cavalli ,
F. Herrmann  and
D. Jopp
C. Gomes Da Rocha*
Affiliation:
HES-SO Valais-Wallis , School Of Health Sciences, Sion, Switzerland University of Porto, Institute Of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal Lausanne University Hospital, Service Of Old Age Psychiatry, Prilly, Switzerland
A. Von Gunten
Affiliation:
Lausanne University Hospital, Service Of Old Age Psychiatry, Prilly, Switzerland
K. Uittenhove
Affiliation:
University of Lausanne, Institute Of Psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland
C. Lampraki
Affiliation:
University of Lausanne, Institute Of Psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland University of Lausanne, Swiss National Centre Of Competence In Research Lives, Lausanne, Switzerland
S. Cavalli
Affiliation:
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Department Of Business Economics, Health And Social Care - Centre Of Competence On Ageing, Manno, Switzerland
F. Herrmann
Affiliation:
Geneva University Hospitals - Trois-Chêne Hospital, Department Of Rehabilitation And Geriatrics, Thônex/Geneva, Switzerland
D. Jopp
Affiliation:
University of Lausanne, Institute Of Psychology, Lausanne, Switzerland University of Lausanne, Swiss National Centre Of Competence In Research Lives, Lausanne, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Depression is one of the most frequent mental health problems in older populations.1 To the best of our knowledge, the prevalence of depressive symptomatology (DS) among centenarians in Switzerland is unknown. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may have had a negative impact. As part of the study SWISS1002, we intend to provide key information on centenarians’ levels of DS.

Objectives

To describe the DS of Switzerland’s centenarians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Randomly selected centenarians from across Switzerland and their proxy relatives were invited to participate. Data are collected via telephone. The questionnaire includes the assessment of DS via the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)– 5 items.3 Preliminary data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Telephone interviews were completed with 51 centenarians, and for 19 of them, proxy relatives also answered. The MAge of the centenarians was 101.41 (1.47) years, 34 (66.67%) were female and 27 (52.94%) lived at home. The mean score of the GDS–5 was 1.32 (SD=1.49). Considering a cut-off ≥2, 18 (36%) centenarians were screened positive for possible depression. Descriptive statistics indicated effects of gender (men: M=1.41, SD=1.46; women: M=1.27, SD=1.53) and living situation (private: M=1.07, SD=1.36; institution: M=1.61, SD=1.62). Centenarians’ and proxy reports were significantly related (ρ=0.56; p<.05).

Conclusions

Clinically relevant DS are highly prevalent among centenarians during the COVID-19 pandemic (36%), which is consistent with a recent study4 reporting a prevalence of 32% in a sample of younger older adults (MAge: 77.6, SD=6.9). To conclude, DS in centenarians should be screened systematically, especially in this time of unprecedented health crisis.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

depressive symptomsCovid-19centenarians
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S648
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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