title: [Assessment of severity of depressive symptoms using the Polish version IA of Beck Depression Inventory in healthy men, inhabitants of Wrocław].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aging is accompanied by progression of depressive symptoms, which significantly impair the prognosis and quality of life of elderly men. Currently, there are no Polish reference values reflecting age-related changes in the intensity of depressive symptoms in healthy men.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  An assessment of the severity of depressive symptoms in a population of healthy Polish men, and an evaluation of the effects of age and education on the analyzed variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 341 healthy men, inhabitants of Wroclaw, aged 32-79, without any significant medical history. The intensity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Polish version IA of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed an increase in the severity of depressive symptoms in the subsequent age categories in the examined men, in all the analyzed symptoms (32-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66-79 years--4.1 +/- 4.4, 8.2 +/- 4.2, 10.4+/- 3.6, 13.4 +/- 3.4 points, respectively, r = 0.65, p < 0.0001), and in cognitive-affective symptoms (respectively--2.8 +/- 3.1, 5.0 +/- 2.8, 5.8 +/- 2.5, 7.3 +/- 2.6 points, r = 0.5 1, p < 0.0001) as well as in somatic symptoms related to mood changes (respectively - 1.3 +/- 1.5, 3.2 +/- 2.0, 4.6 +/- 1.5, 6.1 +/- 1.7 points r = 0.73, p < 0.0001). Mild (BDI > or = 10 and <20 points) and moderate depression (BDI > or = 20 and < 30 points) were found in 12.6% and 0%, 34.5% and 0.8%, 50.0% and 2.9%, 80.0% and 2.9% of men aged 32-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66-79 years, respectively (p < 0.0001). There were differences in the intensity of depressive symptoms in the examined men (p > 0.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Poland, male aging is accompanied by an increase in the severity of depressive symptoms. Age, but not education, constitutes a major determinant of these symptoms. The presented data may be used as reference values for BDI scores of healthy Polish men in subsequent age categories.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopuszańska
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szklarska
authors.forename: Ewa A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jankowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054526:Men's Health; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011044:Poland; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*