[Depression in the elderly: are doctors investigating it?].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether doctors are investigating depression in the elderly.


METHODS
Cross-sectional population-based survey, including individuals aged 60 years or above, resident in the urban area of Pelotas, Brazil. The sample was selected using a multiple-stage protocol based on Brazilian census data.


RESULTS
We interviewed 583 subjects (losses and refusals: 4.7%). We found that 76.6% of the subjects were not asked if they were feeling sad or depressed in their previous medical consultation. Investigation of depression was significantly higher among women and among those with higher depression score. Among women, sadness or depression was investigated in 28.7% of the previous consultations, while among men, the equivalent percentage was 14.8% (PR=1.93; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Depression is not routinely investigated in clinical settings. Doctors should be alerted and trained on the monitoring of depression in this age group.
Gazalle
Fernando Kratz
FK
Programa de Pós-graduação em Psiquiatria, FAMED/UFRGS, Brazil. fgazalle@terra.com.br
Hallal
Pedro Curi
PC
Lima
Maurício Silva de
MS
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution