Medidas de sintomas depressivos em idosos: relações com variáveis sociodemográficas

Background: Considering the prevalence of depression in older people, it is important to know more about the manifestations of depressive symptoms in this phase of life. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate possible relationships between measures of depressive symptoms, taking into account gender and age in the elderly. Methods: In this study 183 elderly persons participated, which were divided into two groups, G1 - nursing homes, and G2-not nursing home and physically active individuals. After excluding participants with suspected dementia according to the Mini-Mental State Exam-MMSE and other criteria for inclusion in the sample, remaining, 69 participants remained, the Geriatric Depressio Scale-GDS was applied as well as the Baptista Depression Scale for the Elderly - EBADEP -I. Results: Results demonstrated an excellent correlation between the two measures and little variation when controlling for sex and age. In the sample men had higher scores on both measures, as well as the institutionalized elderly and those above 75 years.