Depression and Suicidal Ideation Among Elders

By : G. Sridevi, M.A. Triathi, D. Uday Kumar, K. Laxminarayana

Page No: 267-276

Abstract
Depression is a serious condition for people of all ages, but for older people depression is often associated with other co-morbid conditions, such as physical disability, dementia and anxiety that exacerbate the distress experienced by older people and their carers and studies also revealed that geriatric depression is prevalent in rural south India. Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the depression and suicidal ideations among institutionalized elders. Method: For the purpose the study which consists of 40 elders who are institutionalized at Warangal. The age range of the elders is 60 to 80 years and the informed consent was taken from the participants. The tools used are Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and The Modified Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Results: The institutionalized elders, 50% of them are having mild level of depression and 47.5% elders are having moderate level of depression. The single elders are having significant depression and suicidal ideation than coupled elders. Male and female elders are having same level of depression in the institutionalized elders.

Authors :
G. Sridevi : Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, Osmania University, Hyderabad. H.No. 1-31-932/G3, Sri Sai Nagar, Kanajiguda, Thirumalagiri, Secunderabad-500 015.
M.A. Triathi : Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Sweekaar Rehabilitation Institute for Handicapped, Secunderabad. H.No. 1-31-932/G3, Sri Sai Nagar, Kanajiguda, Thirumalagiri, Secunderabad-500 015.
D. Uday Kumar : Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Sweekaar Rehabilitation Institute for Handicapped, Secunderabad. Plot No. 45, Flat No:102, Sri Sai Raghavendra Nilayam, RTC Colony, Thirumalgiri, Secunderabad-500 015.
K. Laxminarayana : Clinical Psychologist, Dept of Psychiatry, Santiram General Hospital and Medical College, NH-18, Nandyal Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh-518 501