title: Depression in an elderly clinic population: findings from an ambulatory care setting.
abstract: Findings of a study of depression in an elderly hospital-based clinic population indicate that over 50% of older adults seen in specialty (psychiatric) clinics had a depressive diagnosis, but less than 2% of the elders seen in nonspecialty (medical) clinics were diagnosed with depression. Depressed patients in nonspecialty clinics had significantly more neurologic, respiratory and gastrointestinal comorbid conditions, nonpsychotropic medications, medical clinic visits, and medical hospitalizations than those elders treated for depression in the specialty clinic. Management of depression differed in type of provider and use of psychotherapy. However, there were no differences in the frequency, class, and specific type of psychotropic medications used in both clinic types.
authors.affiliation: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Blixen
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schuring
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs