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Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
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ISSN 1681-715X |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Volume 21 |
October December 2005 |
Number 4 |
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Frequency of Depression after the Death of Spouse
Haroon Rashid Chaudhry, Nadia Arshad, Saima Niaz, Fahd
Ahmed Cheema,
M Munir Iqbal & Mariam Haroon
Abstract:
Background: Depression in old age is a pathological process. Approximately a fifth of people over 55 years old have mental disorders unrelated to the normal ageing process. The majority copes with ageing and many feel happy and fulfilled.
Objective: To assess the frequency and the severity of depression during the first three months after the death of a spouse.
Design: This was a hospital based, descriptive study.
Place and duration: The study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Free Psychiatric Clinic, Ahbab Hospital, Qila Lachman Singh, Ravi Road, Lahore from June 2003 to Dec 2003.
Patients and Methods: One hundred and seven patients, both male and female, aged 45 to 65 years, suffering from depressive disorder diagnosed on the basis of DSM-IV criteria and whose spouse had died during the last three months were assessed for the severity of depressive symptoms by using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). A semi-structured interview was used for demographic details.
Results: 77 % males and 19 % females scored in the category of severe depression in HAM-D during three months after the death of spouse. Suicidal thoughts and poor drug compliance are also reported to be higher in males as compared to the females.
Conclusion: Depression is common after the death of spouse and clinicians should make the strategies to improve the quality of life of the elderly.
Key words: Depression, death, spouse.
Pak J Med Sci October-December 2005 Vol. 21 No. 4 399-401
Correspondence:
Dr. Haroon Rashid Chaudhary.
Department of psychiatry,
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,
Lahore.
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