RESUMO
To estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly attending Daycare centers. A Cross-Sectional Study. Seven Daycare Centers, Bahrain. The study was performed from 11 July 2010 to 31 July 2010 in all Daycare centers in Bahrain. Five hundred Bahrainis aged 60 years and more attending the Daycare centers were included. The shorter version of the Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS-15] was used to screen for depression among the study participants. Five hundred elderly were registered in all Daycare centers; only 311 were present on the days of the study. Two hundred fifty-four participants agreed to take part in the study; one hundred and twenty-seven [50%] were females and one hundred and twenty-seven [50%] were males. The mean age of respondents was 65.5 years [SD 4.6], the mean age of males was slightly higher than females, 106 [41.7%] of the respondents scored >/= 5 on the depression scale. Sixty [47.2%] of the female interviewees were more likely to be depressed than the males. Illiterate respondents were more depressed than others. Respondents living alone were more likely to show depression than those living with a partner. Depressive symptoms are prevalent among Bahraini elderly attending Daycare centers. Only female gender, illiterate and living with partners showed important predictors of depression, although with wide confidence interval. Further study should be undertaken with a larger sample, involving those elderly who did not attend the centers
RESUMO
The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and depression and their treatment in a cross national sample of primary care patients. Four primary health care facilities in four Governorates, in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Design: Clinical Survey. Four primary health care facilities in four Governorates participated in one stage screening process to identify prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Structured diagnostic interviews among 300 consecutive attendees in one day was used. The Mini International Neuro psychiatric Investigation [MINI] was used as screening tool. The association of depression and anxiety with factors such as age, sex, education and employment were evaluated. Generalized anxiety disorders prevalence rate was 52 [17.3], life time depression was 58 [19.3%] and current depression was 17 [5.6%]. Only 22 [7.3%] of the sample had either anxiety or depression in the past, of whom 41% received treatment. None of the examined factors was significantly linked to anxiety or depression. This study shows that generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive episode are very common among primary care attendees. Thus, primary care physicians should be alerted of this fact. A multifaceted program should be adopted for the detection and management of GAD and depression