Abstract
Abstract Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia and their association with sociodemographic characteristics in independent elderly persons without known depression. Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted, based on a non-probabilistic, intentional type sampling strategy. A total of 176 independent men and women aged over 60 years residing in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were evaluated through individual interviews using the following instruments: a sociodemographic (ad hoc) questionnaire, an adapted version of the questionnaire of the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale (V-15) and the Latin American Alexithymia LAC TAS-20 Scale. The Chi-squared and Student's t-tests were used and the Odds Ratio was calculated, with a probability of error less than or equal to 0.05. Results: The mean age was 73 years (+7.1 years) and 72.7% of the participants were women. The prevalence of Geriatric Depression was 35.8%, while that of Alexithymia was 50.6%. The presence of Geriatric Depression was significantly associated with the female gender and with individuals who did not work. High Alexithymia values were observed among those with primary education and a low occupational level. Conclusion: The evaluation of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia in clinical care is recommended, and the social determinants of the health of the elderly should also be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
Highlights
Fisch[11], suggests that Alexithymia is concomitant with Depression, causing it to beThe aging of the world population is an intrinsic masked through somatic symptoms, and describes process of demographic transition
Despite the controversy that adults and the city of Buenos Aires is considered surrounds this link, studies that analyze the association to have the oldest population in the country (17%)1. of high levels of Alexithymia and Anxiety and Depression in elderly persons have begun to thrive[12]
The present study assesses the prevalence of Geriatric Depression and Alexithymia and their association with the sociodemographic characteristics of elderly persons without known depression
Summary
The aging of the world population is an intrinsic masked through somatic symptoms, and describes process of demographic transition. Analyzing the process of aging involves considering how the socio-cultural system influences. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics the lifestyle of the senescent. Psychosocial factors and their relation to the appearance of depressive affect the etiology of diseases by determining the symptoms, scientific literature emphasizes that the attitudes and behaviors of individuals in relation different types of losses that appear in old age, as to the health-disease process[2]. The well as the limitations of access to activities that developments within successful aging show that promote well-being, could influence the increase of aging is not synonymous with disease, an increase the prevalence of chronic diseases, which contribute in the number specific pathologies that affect health to the emergence of depression. The interruption of are observed in this stage of the life cycle[3]
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