Religious practice and depression among geriatric home care patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between religious practice and depression in a sample of geriatric patients receiving homecare nursing services.


METHODS
Patients were sampled weekly for six months from all those aged 65 to 102, and newly enrolled in a visiting nurse agency (N = 130). Depression was assessed by home interviews using the SCID and HRSD. Patients reported their religious service participation prior to receiving homecare and currently. Health status, disability, pain, social support and history of depression were also assessed.


RESULTS
The current prevalence of DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was significantly greater (p < .05), and depressive symptoms were more severe (p < .02), among those persons who had not attended religious services prior to receiving homecare. Logistic regression demonstrated that the effect of religious attendance remained significant when controlling for health status, disability, pain, social support and history of depression. A subsequent analysis compared three groups of patients. They were those who had: 1) Not attended religious services; 2) Stopped attending since homecare; 3) Continued attending. Data demonstrated significantly decreasing prevalence of MDD (p < .03) across the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder and the severity of depressive symptoms were significantly lower among homecare patients who attend religious services. Because a large proportion of persons stop attending religious services after initiating homecare, it is suggested that visitation by clergy may improve depressive symptoms for these patients.
Milstein
Glen
G
Department of Psychology, City College of the City University of New York, NY 10031, USA. gmilstein@ccny.cuny.edu
Bruce
Martha L
ML
Gargon
Nina
N
Brown
Ellen
E
Raue
Patrick J
PJ
McAvay
Gail
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010327:Pastoral Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012069:Religion and Psychology