DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i12.072

Pages: 5051-5057

The elderly population is on the rise in India. Mood disorders particularly Depression are prevalent in this group and is considered as silent Epidemic. Several studies in India conducted in various set ups have given different results ranging from 11- 60%. Geriatric Depression Scale- short form is found to be an useful tool to screen particularly if used in local language. To identify prevalence of depression among older patients regularly attending the exclusive Geriatric Outpatient clinic of Government General Hospital Chennai- a tertiary care hospital and to find out the correlation of various sociodemographic factors and comorbid conditions with depression. 350 elderly patients were interviewed with a pre designed questionnaire in a calm environment. The selected participants were questioned about their educational status, socio economic status, living arrangement and whether economically dependent or independent. They were gently probed about possibility of abuse- if so by whom. The comorbidities were listed using their OP records of geriatric and other departments.