Prevalence of depression and anxiety among older persons residing in Thoubal district, Manipur

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Among the elderly population, the most common psychiatric conditions include depression and anxiety, which often go untreated or unrecognized, owing to the lack of knowledge and misperceptions about these conditions. Timely identification and treatment improve the quality of life of the elderly. As community studies were scarce in Manipur, the present study was undertaken. Aim of the Study: This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety among older persons residing in Thoubal district, Manipur. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 352 older persons, aged 60 years and above residing in a rural area of Thoubal district of Manipur in India for 1 year. The elderly subjects were selected randomly by lottery method. The validated Manipuri translation of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 short version and the Geriatric Anxiety Scale-10 were used to assess depression and anxiety. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 26 for Windows. Results: The overall prevalence of depression was 102 (29.0%), of which 65 (18.5%), 31 (8.8%), and 6 (1.7%) had mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively. Gender, age, marital status, no income, presence of chronic illnesses, and substance use were significantly associated with depression. The overall presence of anxiety among respondents was 91 (25.9%), out of which 59 (16.8%), 27 (7.7%), and 5 (1.4%) were mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. No income, presence of chronic illnesses, and substance use were significantly associated with anxiety. During binary logistic analysis, a higher risk of developing depression was found in females, widows/widowers, unemployed, no income, and elderly with diabetes and alcohol use, whereas the elderly with hypertension, both hypertension and diabetes, and tobacco use had a higher risk of developing anxiety. Conclusion: The results confirmed that there is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among the rural elderly population. There is a need to improve geriatric mental health-care services including timely screening, monitoring, and implementing preventive programs at the primary health-care level.