title: Depressive symptoms in the frail elderly: physical and psycho-social correlates.
abstract: The elderly who suffer from chronic illness are at unusually high risk of depression and depressive symptoms. This study was conducted to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms in a sample of chronically-ill elders and to examine the relationship between physical illness and depression, both as it is illuminated in a regression model and as it is understood by the respondents themselves. Interviews were conducted with a random sample of 100 clients in a community-based care program for low-income elderly at risk of nursing home placement. Over one-third of the sample (36%) reported significant depressive symptoms, as measured by the CES-D. Multiple regression analysis identified functional limitations, cognitive impairment and self-perception as significant correlates of depression in a model that explained 30 percent of the variance in CES-D scores.
authors.affiliation: Social Research Institute, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith Barusch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Abu-Bader
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology