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Depression in Chinese elderly populations
Author(s) -
Lim Lena L.,
Chang Weining,
Yu Xin,
Chiu Helen,
Chong MianYoon,
Kua EeHeok
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-5872.2011.00119.x
Subject(s) - beijing , medical school , mental health , china , depression (economics) , medicine , library science , psychology , psychiatry , political science , medical education , law , economics , macroeconomics , computer science
There is a scarcity of systematic reports on the prevalence of depression in Chinese elderly populations. The available reports used a variety of diagnostic and screening instruments to identify elderly depression. Furthermore, samples were drawn from different elderly populations. In spite of these difficulties, the reports are consistent in terms of the prevalence rates of severe depression which is lower than those reported in Western studies; though the prevalence rates of depressive symptoms approach those of most Western countries. However, the Chinese elderly showed a particular sensitivity to social factors either as vulnerability or protection factors for depression. There is a consistent social dimension in depressive complaints by Chinese elderly; hence the need to construct specific culturally sensitive instruments and to establish within ethnic group norms and diagnostic criteria for elderly depression. Current intervention efforts to prevent and ameliorate depression in the community‐dwelling elderly will be discussed.