Depression screening among older adults attending low-vision rehabilitation and eye-care services: Characteristics of those who screen positive and client acceptability of screening.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate characteristics associated with screening positive for depressive symptoms among older adults accessing low-vision rehabilitation and eye-care services and to determine client acceptability of depression screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) in these settings.


METHODS
One-hundred and twenty-four older adults (mean = 77.02 years, SD = 9.12) attending low-vision rehabilitation and eye-care services across Australia were screened for depression and invited to complete a telephone-administered questionnaire to determine characteristics associated with depressive symptoms and client acceptability of screening in these settings.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven per cent (n = 46/124) of participants screened positive for depressive symptoms, and the majority considered the new depression screening method to be a 'good idea' in vision services (85%). Severe vision loss (<6/60 in the better eye) was associated with an increased odds of screening positive for depressive symptoms (odds ratio 2.37; 95% confidence interval 1.08-6.70) even after adjusting for potential confounders. Participants who screened positive had a preference for 'talking' therapy or a combination of medication and 'talking therapy' delivered within their own home (73%) or via telephone (67%).


CONCLUSIONS
The PHQ-2 appears to be an acceptable method for depression screening in eye-care settings among older adults. Targeted interventions that incorporate home-based or telephone delivered therapy sessions may improve outcomes for depression in this group.
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Edith E
EE
Holloway
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Bonnie A
BA
Sturrock
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.|Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
Ecosse L
EL
Lamoureux
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Jill E
JE
Keeffe
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Gwyneth
G
Rees
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057240:Patient Preference; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014785:Vision, Ocular
D000928:Antidepressive Agents
depression screening; low vision; psychological treatment preference; vision rehabilitation