title: Religiousness and recovery from inpatient geriatric depression: Findings from the PEJAMA Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether religiousness, in particular intrinsic religiosity, influences the prognosis of elderly inpatients with major depression, and, if so, whether this effect is related to social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 94 patients (71% women; mean age = 76) with DSM-IV major depression were assessed on admission to a psychogeriatric unit in Melbourne, and then reviewed at 6, 12 and 24 months. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale - short form, religiousness, using the five-item Duke University Religion Index, and social support using the Social Support Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Just over one-third of the sample was highly intrinsically religious. High intrinsic religiosity on admission predicted lower depression scores at 24 months (standardised beta = 0.252; P < 0.05). Intrinsic religiosity's effect was independent of social support as well as other demographic, treatment and health variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrinsic religiosity (i.e. a person's commitment to and motivation by religious beliefs) predicts lower depression scores over time among inpatients with geriatric depression. Psychogeriatricians should consider a patient's religious history in order to make informed judgements about depression prognosis.
authors.affiliation: The Peter James Centre, Eastern Health, VIC, Australia. Vahid.Payman@peterjames.org.au <Vahid.Payman@peterjames.org.au>
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Payman
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ryburn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria