Outcome of depression in a geriatric medical day hospital following psychiatric consulation

✍ Scribed by M. Oluwafemi Agbayewa

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 581 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.930050106

✦ Synopsis

A two-year review of a psychiatric clinic within a geriatric medical day hospital was undertaken to obtain: (a) the prevalence of major depression in that clinic and (b) outcome at 6-12 months postintervention. The clinic provided only consultative service to primary caregivers. Thirty-seven per cent of the 78 referrals to this clinic, ie 15% of all day hospital attenders, had a DSM-111 diagnosis of major depression; the depressed group had more widows. Outcome of depression at six months and 12 months was better than or comparable to recent reports despite the low-contact psyhiatric involvement. Cognitive scores and severity of depression had no effect on outcome in this group. More setting-specific prevalence and outcome studies are recommended for a better understanding of depression in the elderly.