Frequency and predictors of depression among elderly of Rawalpindi Pakistan

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression and identify predictors of depression in elderly

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi during a three months period from October 2013 to December 2013 among elderly coming to outdoor patient department Patients and their attendants of age 64 or above were included in the study. 209 patients were selected by consecutive sampling technique. Questionnaire included so-cio-demographic profile and geriatric depression scale [CDS] scale consisting of 15 items. Analysis was done by utilizing SPSS16. Descriptive statistics were performed. The results were recorded as frequencies. P-values were obtained and results were depicted in form of tables and figures. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied to the data to calculate the association

Results: A sample of 209 was studied and depression was found to be present in 28.71%. There was no statistically significant relationship between education, intimacy, sleep, having children or having not financial support and depression [P-value > 0.05]. The analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between gender, people ever diagnosed for depression in life, persons having suicidal ideas at least once in life, poor marital relationship, monthly income between Rs10,000 to 30,000, elderly having no care giver and depression [P-value < 0.05]

Conclusion: High frequency of depression was found among elderly community and diversity exists in predicting factors

Prevalence of depression among elderly visiting outdoor patients department of holy family hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan

Objective: To determine prevalence of depression and to identify associated demographic characteristics among elderly

Study design: A cross sectional study

Place and duration: The study was undertaken in Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi during a three months period from 1st October 2013 to 31st December 2013

Methodology: All the subjects, patients and their attendants of age 64 or above were included. A total of 209 males and females were selected by consecutive sampling technique. Questionnaire includes socio demographic profile and GDS, scale. Analysis was done by utilizing SPSS16

Results: In the sample of 209 males and females depression was found to be prevalent among 28.71% [n=60] .Males were 56.5 % [n=118] and females 43.5 % [n=91]. Married were 47.3 % [n=96] and single, separated or divorced were 18.3% [n=37], widows or widowers were 34.5% [n=70], nuclear family 33% [n=69] and joint family 67% [n=140], employed 25.1% [n=50] and unemployed 73.9% [n=147] Prevalence of depression was more common among females [49.4%] compared to males [12.7%], among unemployed [35.3%] compared to employed [12%] among those living in nuclear family [72.5%] compared to those living in joint family [28.4%] and among elderly with history of childhood parental loss [57.8%] compared to those without history of childhood parental loss [34.2%]. Results depict that mean differences between the males and females, employed and unemployed, nuclear family and joint family for depression are significant

Conclusion: There is high prevalence of depression among elderly community and diversity exists in predisposing factors