Incidence and outcome of depressive symptoms in nursing home patients in the Netherlands

Martin Smalbrugge*, Lineke Jongenelis, Anne Margriet Pot, Jan A. Eefsting, Miel W. Ribbe, Aartjan T.F. Beekman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Objectives: To assess incidence and outcome of depressive symptoms among nursing home (NH) patients and to identify clinical characteristics predicting onset and persistence of depressive symptoms. Methods: Depressive symptoms (GDS>10) and relevant correlates were assessed at baseline and at follow-up (6 months) in 350 NH-patients of 14 Dutch NH's with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Predictors of onset and persistence were studied using chi-square statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased from 41.3% to 28.9% during six months follow-up. The onset of depressive symptoms in those without depressive symptoms at baseline was 4.7%, while the rate of persistence was 63-3%. Persistence of depressive symptoms was more frequent in patients with higher GDS-scores (18-30) at baseline. No baseline characteristics were associated with onset of depressive symptoms. Persistence of depressive symptoms was only associated with more years of education. Conclusions: Pre-admission factors and transition may largely be responsible for depressive symptoms among nursing home patients. The observed substantial decrease in prevalence of depressive symptoms over six months is largely due to remission of depressive symptoms present at baseline. Adaptation of nursing home patients to pre-admission factors, facilitated by the nursing home environment, may explain this observed decrease of depressive symptoms. Future studies should evaluate interventions targeted at patients with higher GDS-scores (18-30).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1069-1076
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2006
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The study is primarily funded by the Dutch Organization of Scientific Research (NWO), Programme chronic disease (940-33-041). Additional financial support was received from Foundation De Open Ankh and Bovenwegen and Society Het Zonnehuis.

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