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[Depression in the elderly in family practice]
1vakgroep Huisartsgeneeskunde, Rijksuniversiteit, Leiden.
Tijdschrift Voor Gerontologie En Geriatrie
|April 1, 1997
Summary
Depression is common in elderly patients visiting general practitioners, with vague symptoms or gastrointestinal issues potentially signaling the condition. Early recognition and brief screening questions can aid diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric medicine
- Psychiatry
- General practice research
Context:
- Depression in the elderly is a significant issue in general practice with limited understanding of its prevalence, diagnosis, and course.
- General practitioners (GPs) often encounter elderly patients with undiagnosed or unrecognized depression.
Purpose:
- To estimate the prevalence of depression in elderly patients attending general practices.
- To identify diagnostic signals for depression in the elderly within daily practice.
- To evaluate the recovery rate of depression among elderly patients and its relation to GP recognition.
Summary:
- Prevalence studies using self-report questionnaires (Zung, Geriatric Depression Scale - GDS) and interviews (Diagnostic Interview Schedule - DIS) indicated high rates of depressive complaints (11-13%) and diagnosed depression (1 in 12 elderly patients).
- Vague symptoms, gastrointestinal complaints, and female gender were associated with depression. A short screening of 4 questions may help confirm or exclude depression.
- At 12 months, 72% of depressed elderly patients recovered, independent of GP recognition. The study highlights the need for further research into the course of depression in general practice.
Impact:
- Identifies vague and gastrointestinal symptoms as potential indicators of depression in the elderly.
- Suggests a brief screening tool for GPs to improve depression diagnosis in older adults.
- Provides insights into the recovery trajectory of depression in the elderly within a general practice setting.