Depressive Disorder in Older Medical Inpatients on General Medicine and Cardiology Services at a University Teaching Hospital.
The authors examined the prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of depressive disorder among medical inpatients age 60 or over at a private teaching hospital. Seventy-six of 129 patients admitted to the general medicine and cardiology services at Duke University Hospital were screened for depressive disorder using DSM-III-R criteria. Depressive disorders were diagnosed in 34.2% of patients: major depression in 13.2%, adjustment disorder in 11.8%, depression not otherwise specified in 5.3%, organic mood disorder in 1.3%, and uncomplicated bereavement in 2.6%. Of patients with major depression, all had symptoms of mild-to-moderate severity. The most common presenting symptoms were insomnia, psychomotor agitation, difficulty concentrating, and loss of energy. Depression was more prevalent among women, general medicine patients, staff (vs. private) patients, and those who were functionally disabled or had multiple serious medical conditions. When other patient characteristics were controlled, however, only health factors were independently associated with depression.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Geriatrics
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 4203 Health services and systems
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 1702 Cognitive Sciences
- 1117 Public Health and Health Services
- 1103 Clinical Sciences
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Geriatrics
- 5203 Clinical and health psychology
- 4203 Health services and systems
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 1702 Cognitive Sciences
- 1117 Public Health and Health Services
- 1103 Clinical Sciences