Abstract

VILLARREAL CASATE, Reinaldo Enrique  and  COSTAFREDA VAZQUEZ, Maribel. Characterization of older persons with depressive disorders. MEDISAN [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.7, pp. 917-925. ISSN 1029-3019.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in 47 depressed older persons admitted to the psychogeriatry room from the Psychiatry Unit at "Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso" General Teaching Hospital of Santiago de Cuba, from March 2006 to February 2007, to identify their depressive disorders. Females (74,46%), age group of 60 - 74 years (80,85%) and the coexistence with good communication (46,80%) in those that lived with their relatives (56,76%) prevailed in the case material. Past medical history of suicidal behavior prevailed in those older persons without company, while among the diagnosed psychiatric symptoms were relevant: reduced energy level, impaired concentration, anorexia and feelings of solitude. Major depression and bipolar disorder, besides having been the psychiatric diagnoses that required more outpatient and inpatient care, were also associated with a greater risk of suicidal behavior in studied patients.

Keywords : older person with depressive disorder; feelings of solitude; suicidal behavior; hospital admission.

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