Background: Depression among the elderly not only causes distress and suffering but also leads to impairments in physical, mental, and social functioning. Despite being associated with excess morbidity and mortality, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated.
Objective:The primary aim is to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and syndromes among adults over 60 in one region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A secondary aim is to determine the contributing factors for these diagnoses.
Design:
Materials and Methods:This descriptive study used the SIG E CAP depression screening questionnaire, which was translated from English into the local language. From October 2001 to October 2002, the questionnaire was given to patients over 60 from four family medicine practices in the Sokolac region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All patients over 60 who were consulting their physicians for various reasons were asked to complete the questionnaire, with assistance from nurses where necessary. The screening questionnaires were evaluated, and respondents who had a positive score were invited back to the clinic for a more detailed interview and additional clinical evaluation.
Results:Depressive symptoms and syndromes were identified in 34% percent of the 192 respondents. Of those, 82% exhibited depressive symptoms while the remaining 18% had severe depression. Women accounted for 65% of the cases with depressive symptoms. Contributing factors included long-term illness (30%), life events (23%), social status and financial situation (40%), and personality (17%).
Conclusion:Depression screening among the elderly in Bosnia and Herzegovina positively revealed depression and depressive symptoms in 34% of undiagnosed patients. These findings demonstrate the usefulness and importance of the depression questionnaire. By using this screening tool, primary care physicians could better diagnose depression and depressive symptoms in their patients, and take appropriate action to treat it, thereby improving the mental health of a great many people in the country.
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