Measuring depression in hospitalized, medically ill, older adults

Studies have consistently shown high prevalence rates of depression associated with negative medical, functional, and psychosocial outcomes in hospitalized, medically ill, older adults. Several issues pose challenges to measurement of depression in this population. In particular, symptoms simultaneously attributable to both medical illness and psychiatric problems may confound measurement of depression, and there is no distinct boundary between normal and abnormal symptoms. This article critiques prevalence research methods used to measure depression in hospitalized, medically ill, older adults and makes recommendations regarding future measurement approaches in both research and clinical practice. Through the identification of appropriate methods for measurement of depression in this population, psychiatric nurses can make a valuable contribution in this area of research as well as enhance effective case-finding and evaluation of depression in older, hospitalized, medically ill patients in the clinical setting.