Late - Life Depression in North Greece: Prevalence and under Detection

Depression is the most frequent cause of emotional suffering on late life. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and to assess possible under-diagnosis of depressive symptoms in the elderly. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the members of the open day care centers for older people in the municipality of Pella, North Greece. A questionnaire was developed to collect basic demographic data, including three questions from the “European Health Interview Survey”, regarding self-reported and/or by a physician diagnosed depression. Moreover, to all participants the Greek validated version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was applied, to screen for depressive symptoms. A total of 241 individuals took part in the study. According to the GDS, 34.9% of the participants revealed having depressive symptoms, 27.5% moderate and 7.5% severe. Having ever been affected with chronic depression reported 30.4%, of them 68.4% had been diagnosed by a medical doctor and 20.8% had received medication. Of the 160 subjects who reported never been affected by a depression, 26.9% and 3.8% screened positive for moderate and severe depressive symptoms, respectively. In seven individuals who reported not to know if they have/had depression, depressive symptoms were observed in 85.7% applying the GDS-15. Depression in the elderly in North-Greece show a high prevalence and appears to be an under-diagnosed disease. The application of GDS-15 by general practitioners would increase their ability to detect and treat depression. RESEARch ARticlE