Citation

Karel MJ, Moye J. Journal of Mental Health and Aging 2002; 8(2): 121-138.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Identifying depression in older medically ill men, and understanding how such depression may present differently within racial subgroups, is critical due to health and suicide risks. This study examines how elderly Black, Hispanic, and White male veterans present symptoms of depression. A total of 967 men over age 60 who were recently medically or surgically hospitalized were subsequently evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-15 item, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)-24 item, and Affect Balance Scale. Across the total sample, cognitive/affective symptoms of depression, including feelings of emptiness, unhappiness, worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness, were most strongly associated with depression as measured by total scale scores on the GDS and HDRS. There were some differences between ethnic subgroups in frequency of item endorsement and in item-scale correlations. Black men endorsed fewer depressive symptoms overall. Challenges for determining the meaning of ethnic differences in depressive symptoms among medically ill elders are discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; aged; article; depression; ethnic difference; Hamilton scale; health; human; major clinical study; male; race; rating scale; soldier; suicide; symptomatology