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Geriatric depression in Nigerian primary care attendees
Author(s) -
Sokoya Olukunle O.,
Baiyewu Olusegun
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.837
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , geriatric depression scale , nigerians , medicine , psychopathology , geriatrics , psychiatry , mental health , primary care , gerontology , depressive symptoms , family medicine , anxiety , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Objective To determine the rate and correlates of geriatric depression in two primary care facilities within a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Method 202 older people were screened using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The Geriatric Mental State schedule (GMS) was administered to participants who scored above the cut‐off on the GDS in order to assess psychopathology. Diagnosis of depression was based on ICD‐10 criteria as well as the GMS‐AGECAT program. Results The rate of geriatric depression in primary care was found to be 7.4%. Severe depression was only 1.5%. Very low income and subjective report of poor health were significantly associated with depression in the cohort. AGECAT recognition of depression was comparable to that by the ICD‐10 ( k = 0.7). Conclusion The study is the first known study of geriatric depression in primary care in Nigeria. The rates are comparable with rates obtained in other countries. Specific correlates of depression in the older Nigerians identified included poor self‐assessed health and low income. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.