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Clinician-Rated Symptoms and Signs of Depression in Aged Finns

Department of Public Health, University of Oulu, Aapistie 3, SF-90220 Oulu, Finland

Kimmo Pahkala

Department of Public Health, University of Tampere, P.B. 607, SF-33101 Tampere, Finland, Ähtärinjärvi Health Centre, SF-63700 Ähtäri, Finland

The study describes symptoms and signs of depression in elderly (60 years or over) Finns. Lists of symptoms and signs assessed by the examining physicians in a popula tion study were used in rating, and the symptoms and signs of persons diagnosed as depressed were compared to those of persons who were not depressed.

The commonest symptoms both in men and women were sleep disturbances, fatiguability, loss of interest, depressed mood, loss of activity, pains, pessimism and sense of uselessness. In addition, worry was a common symptom in women. Hallucina tions and other delusions than those about unforgivable behaviour were very uncom mon. Loss of libido did not strongly indicate occurrence of depression, and in persons aged 70 years or over it could not be included in symptoms of depression. Sex dif ferences in the commonest symptoms of depression were evident: worry, crying spells, helplessness, loneliness, suicidal ideas and pains were more common in depressed women than in depressed men. Some age differences in symptoms were also found both in men and in women.

Sad expression was a common sign of depression in both sexes. In addition, slow movements, scarcity of gestures and slow speech were quite common signs in depressed men and stooping posture was quite common in depressed women.

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 34, No. 4, 274-284 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/002076408803400405


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