To Find Out Prevalence of Depression in Geriatric Population in Old Age Homes in Ahmedabad - A Survey

INTRODUCTION: Because of aging process, so many changes occur in the body which leads to changes in blood flow of the body as well as brain. So in geriatrics, problems occur related to mood disorders. Mood disorders may be associated with global and regional changes in cerebral blood flow and metabolism. Global as well as regional cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism decrease in late-life which is responsible for depression. Basal ganglia and temporal lobe abnormalities, decreased prefrontal cortex blood flow and metabolism is main findings in depressed unipolar and bipolar patients, which leads to cognitive impairments.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To find out the prevalence of depression in geriatric population in old age homes in Ahmedabad. METHODOLOGY: 100 geriatric subjects were included after getting their informed written consent to participate. Depression was recorded by using Goldberg depression scale. Statistically the data were analyzed. RESULTS: The present study was done to see the prevalence of depression in geriatrics and the results show that there is 23 % of population in old age homes is severely depressed. Average 17 % of population is under borderline to severe depression. And just 10 % of population is having no depression. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that prevalence of depression is high in old age homes in Ahmedabad.