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Treatment of depression in low-level residential care facilities for the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 April 2007

Kuruvilla George ,
Tanya E. Davison ,
Marita McCabe ,
David Mellor  and
Kathleen Moore
Kuruvilla George*
Affiliation:
Aged Persons Mental Health Service, Peter James Centre, Melbourne, Australia
Tanya E. Davison
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
Marita McCabe
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
David Mellor
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
Kathleen Moore
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Kuruvilla George, Director of Aged Persons Mental Health Service, Peter James Centre, Forest Hill 3131, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9881 1749; Fax: +61 3 9802 3674. Email: kuruvilla.george@peterjames.org.au.
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Abstract

Background: The rate of recognition and treatment of depressed older people in nursing homes is low. Data from the low-level residential care population have not been reported. This study aimed to collect information about the treatment of depression among older persons living in low-level residential care (hostels).

Method: The participants comprised 300 elderly residents from ten low-level residential care facilities from various suburbs in metropolitan Melbourne. The participants were interviewed by a trained clinical psychologist to determine the presence or absence of major or minor depressive disorder using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorder (SCID-I). Each participant was also administered the Standardized Mini-mental State Examination (SMMSE) to determine level of cognitive function. The clinical psychologist then reviewed all cases in consultation with a geropsychiatrist experienced in the diagnosis of depression among older people, prior to assigning a diagnosis of depression.

Results: An important finding in this study was the low treatment for currently depressed residents, with less than half of those in the sample who were depressed receiving treatment. However, 61 of the 96 residents out of the sample of 300 who were on antidepressants were not currently depressed.

Conclusion: There is an under recognition and under treatment of currently depressed older people in low-level residential care facilities (hostels) just as has been reported in studies in nursing homes. However, there are high numbers receiving antidepressants who are not currently depressed.

Keywords

recognitiontreatmentdepressionelderlyresidential care
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , December 2007 , pp. 1153 - 1160
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2007

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