Factors Affecting the Severity of Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly / 신경정신의학

The depressive symptoms are frequent and important ones in the elderly population. We studied the various factors affecting the severity of depressive symptoms in the elderly population. The Korean elderly (more than 65 years old; n=490) in Seoul area (city) were studied on the identifying data and medical and psychiatric history, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Korean Depression Scale(KDS: under development)were also administered. In our study, the significant effect of sex, age, education, marital status, and the status of medical security on the severity of depressive symptoms were not found. Significantly higher GDS and KDS scores were found in the elderly who have more than one physical illness, subjective memory complaints, and seven life events. To examine the strength of association of these variables of depression, we conducted logistic regression. Depressive symptoms were associated with 1)the loss of spouse, 2)a current physical illness, and 3)low socioeconomic status. These results showed that depression in the elderly may be correlated with the loss of spouse, a current physical illness, and low socioeconomic status.

Depressive Factors in the Korean Elderly

Depression is one of most frequent psychiatric disorders in the elderly. Major depression has higher prevalence in the elderly compared with younger subjects. Depression in the elderly is a major health concern that can be life threatening, if not recognized and not treated. An untreated depression may result in needless suffering, institutionalization, and suicide. Inadequated treatment may occur because the signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly are different from those in the young, and because the depressive symptoms may be viewed by the physician as a normal part of aging. The purpose of this study is to evaluate depressive factors in the Korean elderly. Four hundred and sixty eight Koreans were evaluated for depressive factors in 60 years old or more. The author performed a clinical evaluation guide, an intensive questionnaire, and Mini-Mental Status Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K). Stastically ANOVA, Scheffe, Duncan and Chi-square methods were used to find out depressive factors in the Korean elderly. Depression, dissatisfaction, suicidal idea and distress factors were evaluated in the Korean elderly depressed persons. Depressive factors were associated with physical health problems, family problems, psychiatric health problems, loneliness, economic problems, interpersonal conflicts, and occupational problems. Among these depressive factors, physical health problems were most frequently dominant in the elderly. Physical health problems are closely related to depression in the elderly. Depressive syndromes in the elderly are frequently combined with somatic complaints. And depression may be masked by multiple somatic complaints or by pain, for which no organic cause can be found. However, the etiology and mechanism of the association between physical illness and depression are unkown. Such factors as described above may be important in reducing the high prevalence of depression in elderly people.

Depressive Factors in the Korean Elderly

Depression is one of most frequent psychiatric disorders in the elderly. Major depression has higher prevalence in the elderly compared with younger subjects. Depression in the elderly is a major health concern that can be life threatening, if not recognized and not treated. An untreated depression may result in needless suffering, institutionalization, and suicide. Inadequated treatment may occur because the signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly are different from those in the young, and because the depressive symptoms may be viewed by the physician as a normal part of aging. The purpose of this study is to evaluate depressive factors in the Korean elderly. Four hundred and sixty eight Koreans were evaluated for depressive factors in 60 years old or more. The author performed a clinical evaluation guide, an intensive questionnaire, and Mini-Mental Status Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K). Stastically ANOVA, Scheffe, Duncan and Chi-square methods were used to find out depressive factors in the Korean elderly. Depression, dissatisfaction, suicidal idea and distress factors were evaluated in the Korean elderly depressed persons. Depressive factors were associated with physical health problems, family problems, psychiatric health problems, loneliness, economic problems, interpersonal conflicts, and occupational problems. Among these depressive factors, physical health problems were most frequently dominant in the elderly. Physical health problems are closely related to depression in the elderly. Depressive syndromes in the elderly are frequently combined with somatic complaints. And depression may be masked by multiple somatic complaints or by pain, for which no organic cause can be found. However, the etiology and mechanism of the association between physical illness and depression are unkown. Such factors as described above may be important in reducing the high prevalence of depression in elderly people.