In India, the world's second most populous state, an increasing proportion of its population are elderly. Older people invariably face special psychiatric challenges. In a community-based cross-sectional study, depression was found to be present in almost a third of the elderly; furthermore, low family income, poor literacy and uncertain employment status were found to be significant associations.
Van BavelJ. The world population explosion: causes, backgrounds and -projections for the future. Facts Views Vis Obgyn2013; 5(4): 281–291PMID: 24753956; PMCID: PMC3987379.
2.
FerrariAJCharlsonFJNormanRE, et al. Burden of depressive disorders by country, Sex, Age, and year: findings from the global burden of disease study 2010. Hay PJ, editor. PLoS Med2013; 10: e1001547.
3.
PilaniaMYadavVBairwaM, et al. Prevalence of depression among the elderly (60 years and above) population in India, 1997–2016: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health2019; 19: 832.
4.
PilaniaM. Elderly depression in India: an emerging public health challenge. Australas Med J2013; 6: 107–111.
5.
AlmeidaOPAlmeidaSA. Short versions of the geriatric depression scale: a study of their validity for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry1999; 14: 858–865.
6.
SharmaKGuptaASharmaR, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for depression in elderly north Indians. J Geriatr Ment Health2016; 3: 158.
7.
OguraSJakovljevicMM. Editorial: global population aging - health care, social and economic consequences. Front Public Health2018; 6: 335.
8.
RadhakrishnanSNayeemA. Prevalence of depression among geriatric population in a rural area in tamilnadu. Int J Nutr Pharmacol Neurol Dis2013; 3: 309.
9.
TaquiAMItratAQidwaiW, et al.Depression in the elderly: does family system play a role? A cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry2007; 7: 57.
10.
YehS-CJLiuY-Y. Influence of social support on cognitive function in the elderly. BMC Health Serv Res2003; 3: 9.
