title: The effects of multifactorial fall prevention on depressive symptoms among the aged at increased risk of falling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to determine the effects of multifactorial fall prevention on depressive symptoms among aged Finns at increased risk of falling.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is part of a multifactorial fall prevention trial with a randomised controlled design implemented in the town of Pori, western Finland. The study population consisted of ambulatory, 65-year-old or older Finns, with moderate or high cognitive and physical abilities who had fallen at least once during the previous 12 months. The participants (n=591) were randomised into a risk-based multifactorial fall prevention programme (intervention group, IG) or into a one-time counselling group (control group, CG). The 1-year intervention included individual geriatric assessment followed by treatment recommendations, individual guidance regarding fall prevention, physical exercise in small groups twice a month, psychosocial group activities and lectures once a month, home-exercises and home hazard assessment. The outcome, depressive symptoms, was measured by the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The full GDS data with no missing items were available for 464 persons. A significant decrease in depressive symptoms during the 12-month intervention was found both in IG and in CG, but the difference in change was not significant (p=0.110). However, a significant difference in change between the groups was found among men and older subjects (>or=75) in favour of the IG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multifactorial fall prevention had no effects on depressive symptoms among the community-dwelling aged. However, men and older participants benefited from the intervention.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. nookau@utu.fi
authors.forename: Noora M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Sjösten
authors.forename: Tero J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.forename: Sirkka-Liisa
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kivelä
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003376:Counseling; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome