Affective disorders, social support, and health status in geriatric patients in a general hospital.
A randomized-sample taken from all elderly patients aged 70 years and over hospitalized for medical/surgical disorders was studied (N = 108) to determine the influence of health problems and social support on depression. According to DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria, 50.9% had psychiatric disorders and 15.7% had affective disorders. In the total sample, depressive symptoms significantly correlated with the existence of health problems and lack of social support, but independently considered, these variables did not have a significant influence on diagnoses of depressive disorders.
Lázaro
L
L
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Marcos
T
T
Valdés
M
M
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012803:Sick Role; D012944:Social Support; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology