title: Depressive symptoms and depression in people screened positive for dementia in primary care - results of the DelpHi-study.
abstract: Dementia and depression are common syndromes in the elderly. There is lack of knowledge concerning the frequency of depressive symptoms in people with dementia (PWD) and factors associated with depression. The aim of this analysis is to (a) describe the frequency of depressive symptoms in people screened positive for dementia, (b) describe differences between PWD with and without depressive symptoms, and (c) analyze associations between depressive symptoms and other dementia-related variables.
  
  
  
  Analyses are based on data of the GP-based intervention trial DelpHi-MV. A sample of 430 (6.29%) people screened positive for dementia in primary care was analyzed regarding depression according to the German version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS, 15-items), demographic variables, and dementia/depression-related variables. Multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  The mean GDS-score of depressive symptoms in n = 430 PWD was m = 3.21 (SD 2.45) with 67 PWD (15.55%) showing clinically relevant depression (GDS < 5) m = 7.71 (SD = 1.92). A total of n = 72 (16.74%) received a formal diagnosis of depression and n = 62 (14.42%) received antidepressive drug treatment. Depressive symptoms are significantly associated with age (OR = 0.93), functional impairment (OR = 1.36), and quality of life (OR = 0.01, CI: 0.00-0.06).
  
  
  
  Our results support previous findings that clinically relevant depressive symptoms are more common in people screened positive for dementia than in the general population and are often missed or mismanaged. Our findings underline the importance of managing quality of life, functional status, or depressive symptoms. Also, the results highlight the benefit of including the partner (and probably other carers) for adequate treatment of PWD.
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),site Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen René
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thyrian
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),site Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Tilly
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),site Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),site Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wucherer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Community Medicine,University of Greifswald,Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dreier
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),site Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Michalowsky
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE),site Rostock/Greifswald,Ellernholzstr. 1-2,17489 Greifswald,Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: dementia; depression; primary care; primary healthcare