TY - JOUR T1 - Prevalence of depression in general practice patients over 75 years of age JF - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners JO - J R Coll Gen Pract SP - 20 LP - 21 VL - 38 IS - 306 AU - M.A. Jack AU - S.A. Stobo AU - L.A. Scott AU - A. Sahgal AU - S.J. Jachuck Y1 - 1988/01/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/38/306/20.abstract N2 - The prevalence of depression among 74 male and 211 female patients aged 75 years or over registered with a group general practice was assessed, using the geriatric depression scale. Test scores of 0- 10, suggesting no depressive illness, were observed in 63 (85%) men and 172 (82%) women. Mild depression (scores 11-20) was observed in 10 (14%) men and 36(17%) women and severe depression (scores 21-30) in one (1%) man and three (1%) women. No significant statistical association was found with age or sex, suggesting that elderly men and women are equally prone to depression. A general practitioner found clinical manifestations of depression in 29 of the patients (10%). The geriatric depression scale scores were compared with clinical diagnoses of depression. Those with high scores were more likely to be depressed and vice versa. Thirty two elderly patients (11%) with no clinical manifestation of depression recorded high scores on the geriatric depression scale. These patients may be described as `psychiatric cases'. Uncertainty about the importance of early identification of these cases necessitates further screening and regular follow-up of elderly patients. ER -