Commentary on Nahcivan NO & Demirezen E (2005) Depressive symptomatology among Turkish older adults with low income in a rural community sample. Journal of Clinical Nursing 14, 1232-1240.

摘要

Across the globe, depression among older people is common but often reported to be under-recognized. This public health problem is being addressed at several levels. As the study reported by Nahcivan and Demirezen (2005) illustrates, some responses involve screening of community dwelling older people for depressive symptoms. Other approaches include case-funding to explore if current patients suffer from depression. All such endeavours reflect the many paradoxes of depression: it is common yet under-reported, it is amenable to treatment (particularly combinations of psychosocial therapies, and for some the addition of medication - for a general overview see Manthorpe & Iliffe 2005) and depression makes physical health problems worse and affects abilities to recuperate from illnesses. Similarly, as this study in Turkey reveals, women appear most at risk of depression, though it is men who are most likely to take their own lives.