Depression among elderly residents of local-authority residential homes. Its nature and the efficacy of intervention.
Of 390 residents in 12 local-authority homes for the elderly, 93 had evidence of depression on screening and underwent standard clinical assessment. Half had an affective disorder, and a further third had depressive symptoms in the setting of an organic mental disorder. The 93 residents had a high rate of physical illness and disability, undertook little social activity, and were visited infrequently. A range of interventions for depressed residents, the majority social in type, mostly proved difficult to implement. There was no evidence of efficacy of psychiatric intervention at three months; at one-year follow-up a quarter of study participants had died, and 28% of those who were reassessed for depression showed evidence of recovery.
Ames
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Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012960:Socioenvironmental Therapy