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Prevalence, Presentation and Co-Morbidity Pattern Associated with Depression among Geriatric Patients Attending the GOPD of UPTH

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Dept. of Family Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State, NIGERIA

Int. Res. J. Medical Sci., Volume 1, Issue (3), Pages 17-24, April,28 (2013)

Abstract

The study was done to determine the prevalence of depressive illness among the elderly patients attending the General Outpatient Department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). This was done against the background of increased morbidity of depressive illness among the elderly culminating in disability and suicidal risk. A descriptive cross-sectional study of one hundred and fifty randomly selected elderly patients attending the GOPD was carried out. A structured questionnaire containing the Geriatric Depression Scale was administered to the patients that had satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was entered into the computer using the Epi-info version 3.2.2 software, and analysed. 28% of the patients were found to be mildly, moderately and severely depressed. The commonest modes of presentation were internal heat, multiple somatic complaints and delusions and/or hallucinations. Most of the depressed respondents had at least one co-morbid condition and these were more frequently found to be stroke and diabetes mellitus.

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