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Approach to major depression in old people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2010

Beatriz Navarro ,
Fernando Andrés ,
Ignacio Párraga ,
Susana Morena ,
José Miguel Latorre  and
Jesús López-Torres
Beatriz Navarro*
Affiliation:
Research Unit. Health Care Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), Spain Faculty of Medicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Fernando Andrés
Affiliation:
Research Unit. Health Care Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), Spain
Ignacio Párraga
Affiliation:
Research Unit. Health Care Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), Spain
Susana Morena
Affiliation:
Family and Community Medicine, Health Care Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), Spain
José Miguel Latorre
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Jesús López-Torres
Affiliation:
Research Unit. Health Care Service of Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), Spain Faculty of Medicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Beatriz Navarro, Calle Marqués de Villores n° 6–8, 02001 Albacete, Spain. Phone: +34 967195131; Fax: +34 967 226796. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Background: The difficulty in identifying and distinguishing Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in primary care is well known. The main objective of this study is to determine the frequency of MDD in persons aged 65 years and older using the Detection of Depression in the Elderly Scale (DDES). A second objective is to determine the convergent validity of the DDES with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out of 1,387 subjects aged 65 years and older. The variables considered were: affective state (GDS and DDES), physical and cognitive functional state, health problems and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: Using the DDES we identified MDD in 50 subjects (4.3%). There was a moderate correlation (r = 0.570; p < 0.001) between the DDES and the GDS scores (p < 0.001). According to logistic regression analysis, the variables associated with a probable MDD (DDES +) were: dependence in activities of daily living (OR: 3.3), female gender (OR: 2.3), marital status single/widowed/divorced (OR: 2.0), and the presence of four of more health problems (OR: 2.1).

Conclusions: Using the DDES scale we found a 4.3% prevalence of MDD in a representative sample of older adults. Compared to the GDS, the most commonly used scale, the DDES may be considered a more sensitive screening tool for the identification of MDD in primary care.

Keywords

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Issue 5 , August 2010 , pp. 733 - 738
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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