Depression is common among the elderly, especially those living in nursing homes. This study examined rates of depression among elderly people living in geriatric homes and attending clubs in Beni Suef, Egypt. The study assessed 145 elderly individuals using questionnaires to measure depression, life satisfaction, and stress. It found that 89.7% of elderly living in geriatric homes suffered from depression, compared to only 56.7% of those attending clubs. Depression was more common in those who were single, widowed or divorced. While there was no link between depression and education, sex or family history, depression did correlate inversely with life satisfaction - those with more severe depression reported less satisfaction with life events.

1. ression Hani Hamedelderly in Beni Suef city (Upper Egypt)
among Dessoki, Ekram M. El Shabrawy, Eman El Tahlawy,
uthors Prof.
lShymaa M. Lotfy
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MD.Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine Beni Suef University,
MD.Community medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine Beni Suef University
Introduction; font size 9 - 12
•Depression is a medical illness in which the person has
feelings of sadness, discouragement and lack of self-worth,
it can also be a sign of medical problem and may be
complicated by brain disorders that occur with age, such as
Alzheimer’s disease, it frequently goes without diagnosis and
treatment .
•Studies have shown a positive correlation between age
(especially 60 and older) and the presence of symptoms of
depression . The depression risk increases among elderly
living in nursing homes. Prevalence of depression in the
nursing home population is very high, three to four times
higher than in the community-dwelling elderly . Major
depression in nursing-home population range from 10-22%.
Materials and Methods
•The study was conducted in Beni Suef city in three geriatric
homes besides one geriatric club (the other two clubs were
inactive), from December 2008 till October 2009. All the
elderly above 60 years males and females who are living in
geriatric homes and those attending the geriatric club were
included (145) with the following Inclusion criteria: A: Those
living in Beni Suef city, B: Alert and oriented to time, place
and person.
•Data collection tools were:
•A questionnaire: pre-tested on a small scale pilot study, its
results was not included. It contains, Socioeconomic data
(age, sex, former occupation, martial status, educational
level), Health condition (presence of chronic diseases as
diabetes or hypertension).
•The used questionnaire was prepared in Arabic language to
ensure that all participants will understand the questions
•Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (Arabic version). Selfrated 30-item scale which has been recommended by the
Royal College of physicians, British Geriatric society as a
suitable method for screening of depression in the geriatric
age group and rating of its severity.
•Life Satisfaction Scale and Facing Daily Stressful Live
Events Scale-Arabic version- It is a 30-statements scale that
includes 3 subscales to which the subject agrees, disagrees
or is equivocal.
•Ethical considerations :All procedures of the study were
conducted after explaining to the participants the study
objectives, then consent was taken at first from director of
place then the elderly and lastly from his family.
References
Sharp L K, and. Lipsky M S: Screening for Depression
Across the Lifespan: A Review of Measures for Use in
Primary Care Settings, American Family Physician (2002):
Vol. (66), No. (6).
Dessoki M M : Life Satisfaction Scale(2003):, Egyptian Anglo
Library.
Results
•89.7 % of elderly in geriatric homes suffer from depression
while only 56.7 % in geriatric clubs, the difference was
statistically significant (p value < 0.0001)
• 77.8% of the females suffering from depression while it is
only present in 67.4% of males (the difference was
insignificant at p>0.05)
•There is no significant difference between depressed and
normal elderly as regards educational level.
• Depression was present among 100% of single, 80.9%
among divorced and the least among married 67.4%, (the
difference was significant at p< 0.05)
•There is no statistical significant relation between
occurrence of depression and family history of psychiatric
disorder.
•Hypertension constitutes 51.9%, 43.2% while diabetes was
present in 27.8% and 21.6% in the depressed and none
depressed elderly respectively.
•There was statistical significant difference between the
elderly in geriatric homes and clubs regarding the life
satisfaction scales at p<0.00001
•There was statistical significant negative correlation at
p<0.0001 between the total geriatric depression scale and
life satisfaction scale with controlling the place of living, all
parameters of life satisfaction decrease with increasing the
total depression score.
Conclusions
•Depression among elderly is one of the most important
public health problems. In Beni Suef city the depression
among the elderly in geriatric homes were more than those
living with their families and attending club.
•Depression is common with those who suffer from
loneliness as single , widowed or divorced .There is no
relation in occurrence of depression with education , sex or
family history of depression , the people in geriatric homes
cannot cope with stressful life events and not satisfied with
their life .
•Depression has inverse relationship with the life events the
more depression severity the less satisfaction with life.