A Cross Sectional Study: Depression Status among Elderly using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in Urban Chennai

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.SE.19.02.Art007

Authors : Sathish Kumar Krishnamurthy, Valarmathi Srinivasan, Parameshwari Srijayanth, Kalpana Ramachandran

Abstract:

Elderly in India, older ones (above 80yrs) are growing at a fast pace and these very elderly people are usually weaker, insecure, dependent and suffer more often from age-related diseases [4]. A Cross sectional study was done using a Questionnaire along with Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate both physical and mental health of 410 participants above 60yrs of age using a Multi Stage Cluster Sampling technique with 137 samples each from 3 regions of Urban Chennai. Physically elderly complained with Joint pain, Leg pain, Loss of power or sensation, followed by Back pain, Constipation, Chest pain and Neck pain for the past two months. And mentally they complained about Loss of memory, appetite and Sleep. Amongst 233 males &177 females, physically 38.2 % &30.5% and 15.0% &27.7% were evaluated to be with Stage 1 &Stage 2 Hypertension. Amongst males and female, 1.3% and 6.8% were found to be with Severe Depression similarly, 3.9% and 14.1% were Moderately Depressed and 13.7% and 32.8% had Mild Depression while others were normal. Analysis of Chi-square Test for depression with other factors were sleeplessness, being widowed, monthly Income of less than Rs. 5000, Feeling Neglected, Living in Old Age Home and in Joint Family revealed a significant association (p < 0.05) with SPSS11.0. There is a strong association of depression amongst elderly were with External and Family influence which could make way for more studies related to development of Psycho physiological and Psycho social impacts on Geriatric health.

Keywords: Elderly, Geriatric, Depression, GDS, Chennai.

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