Study of depression and life satisfaction in patients attending geriatric outpatient department in a tertiary care center
Objectives: Old age is often perceived as a stressful phase of life, as it is associated with multiple physical and often ignored, mental health issues. Life satisfaction (LS) is an individual’s perception regarding life circumstances. Indian literature lacks enough data regarding depression and LS...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Geriatric Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/jgmh/fulltext/2024/11020/study_of_depression_and_life_satisfaction_in.4.aspx |
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| Summary: | Objectives:
Old age is often perceived as a stressful phase of life, as it is associated with multiple physical and often ignored, mental health issues. Life satisfaction (LS) is an individual’s perception regarding life circumstances. Indian literature lacks enough data regarding depression and LS in the elderly; hence, the study was done in patients attending the geriatric outpatient department (OPD), with the following objectives: (a) to study depression (b) to study LS (c) to study the association between the two.
Materials and Methods:
Sixty-six patients from geriatric OPD in a tertiary care center were selected. The Geriatric Depression Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale were applied to them after excluding patients with acute medical and psychiatric conditions. Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained, and informed consent was obtained from the participants.
Results:
More than one-third of our participants (37.9%) were found to be depressed, and 27.3% were found to be less satisfied with life. A significant association (P < 0.001) was found between depression and LS among the participants.
Conclusions:
Early identification and treatment of depression in the elderly is important as it can enhance LS at this stage of life. This can prevent psychiatric morbidity and consequences such as despair and suicide. Hence, screening for depression in all elderly and early intervention can go a long way in keeping the elderly happy and healthy. |
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| ISSN: | 2348-9995 2395-3322 |