Depression in the elderly: study in a rural city in southern Catalonia

Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric diseases among the elderly, and frequently go without diagnosis and treatment. However, evidence regarding the prevalence of depression related to the diagnostic systems utilized and the sociocultural variations in the different communities investigated (rural-urban) is contradictory. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression in a rural area in the south of Catalonia, analysing the different age groups, identifying the causal factors of depression and determining whether there are gender differences. The descriptive and quantitative study includes 157 women and 160 men. The qualitative study evaluates 14 men and 52 women diagnosed with depression. Our results indicate a high risk of depression in elderly participants of our small rural community. Widowers suffer more depression than widows and the loneliness, illness, and task of caregiver were predictive variables for depression in these elderly men. The loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living associated with ageing has a greater effect on depression disorders in men than in women.