Proportion of depression among the elderly population in a rural health care setting

Abstract

Introduction: Depression among elderly has serious public health implications. Integration of mental health into primary care may help in reaching the elderly population better and in identifying depression among them. Objectives: This study was done to determine the proportion and the correlates of depression among the elderly population which attended the rural psychiatry services and to compare the proportion with that of the middle aged population. Material and Methods: The outpatient data of the past 1 year in the rural psychiatry centre was analysed. Correlates of depression among the elderly were studied by Chi square test and the proportion in elderly was compared with that of the middle aged population using Z-test. R esults and Conclusion: Depression among the elderly attendees was significantly higher than that in the middle aged group. Depression was more common among the young old and females and co-morbidities were more commonly seen in males and the young old compared to those who were aged 80 years and above.