Objective: To determine the rate and correlates of geriatric depression in two primary care facilities within a teaching hospital in Nigeria.
Method: 202 older persons 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 ICD-10 criteria as well as the GMS-AGECAT program.
Result: 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 comparables with rates obtained in other countries. Specific correlates of depression in the older Nigerians identified included poor self assessed health and low income.
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