Ann Dermatol.  2013 Aug;25(3):278-284. 10.5021/ad.2013.25.3.278.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression in Geriatric Patients with Dermatological Diseases

• Kim EK
• Kim HO
• Park YM
• Park CJ
• Yu DS
• Lee JY

• KMID: 2265865
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2013.25.3.278

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Although rarely life threatening, dermatological diseases may have a considerable influence on a patient's quality of life and psychological well-being. As with morbidity and mental distress from other chronic diseases, a skin disorder can be the one of the main causes of depression in the geriatric population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of depression in elderly patients with dermatological disease in Korea and to identify factors associated with depression.
METHODS
Patients over the age of 60 years with dermatologic diseases were solicited for a questionnaire survey. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to obtain a patient-based measurement of depression. Additionally, demographic information and medical history were collected.
RESULTS
The questionnaire was completed by 313 patients (39.94% men, mean age 69.04 years, mean disease duration 3.23 years). Dermatological disease overall had a significant effect on patients' depression (chi2=177.13, p<0.0001), with a mean GDS score of 12.35 (out of 30). The patients who had a GDS score greater than 10 was 62.3% which indicated increased prevalence of mild to severe depression when compared to the general population among whom only 22.22% percent have GDS score greater than 10. In the univariate analysis, physical health, education level, and the presence of concurrent diseases were risk factors for geriatric depression. However, we did not find any demographic or disease related variables that were independent predictors of depression.
CONCLUSION
Geriatric patients with dermatological disease experience an increase burden of depression. Thus, it is important for clinicians to evaluate geriatric patients with dermatologic diseases for depression.

Keyword

Depression; Geriatric population; Skin disorder

MeSH Terms

Aged
Chronic Disease
Depression
Humans
Korea
Male
Prevalence
Quality of Life
Risk Factors
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparison of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) distribution between patients with dermatologic disease (A, n=313) and general population (B, n=1,008).

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  Fig. 2 Distribution of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) according to education level (A) and physical health (B). Percentage of depressed patients scoring GDS 10 or above. *p<0.05, †p<0.01.

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