Depression and Disability: Comparisons with Common Physical Conditions in the Ibadan Study of Aging

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ABSTRACT 

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of depression and

chronic physical conditions on disability in elderly persons.

SETTING: Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria.

DESIGN: Interviews.

PATICIPANTS: Community-dwelling persons aged 65 and

older.

METHOD: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a representative sample of community-dwelling persons aged 65 and older (N52,152) in the Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria (representing 22% of the national population).

Major depressive disorder (MDD) was assessed using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic

Interview. Chronic pain and medical disorders were assessed using self-report. Disorder-specific disability was evaluated using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS).

RESULTS: MDD was highly comorbid with each of the medical conditions (odds ratio range 1.3–2.0). A higher proportion of persons with MDD (47.2%) were rated severely disabled globally than those with arthritis (20.6%), chronic spinal pain (24.2%), or high blood pressure (25.0%). Subjects with MDD were also more likely to be severely disabled in three of the four domains of the SDS. In pair-wise comparisons, persons with MDD had significantly higher levels of disability than those with any of the disorders, with differences in mean scores ranging between 3.74 and 27.50.

CONCLUSION: To reduce the public health burden of depression, its prevention and treatment require more clinical and research attention than currently given by developing countries. J Am Geriatr Soc 56:2033–2038, 2008

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