The authors surveyed 997 elderly people living in the community and
found that the rate of significant dysphoric symptomatology was 14.7%.
Forty-five (4.5%) of these individuals suffered from dysphoric symptoms
only, and 37 (3.7%) had symptoms of a major depressive disorder. Eighteen
(1.8%) suffered from symptoms of primary depressive disorder and 19 (1.9%)
from symptoms of secondary depressive disorder. Sixty- five (6.5%) had
depressive symptoms associated with impaired physical health. The frequency
of widowhood, impairment in social resources, and impairment in economic
resources was greater for individuals with symptoms of a major depressive
disorder. The entire sample used psychiatric services at a very low
rate.
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