Vahid Payman1, Bridget Ryburn. 1. The Peter James Centre, Eastern Health, VIC, Australia. Vahid.Payman@peterjames.org.au <Vahid.Payman@peterjames.org.au>
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether religiousness, in particular intrinsic religiosity, influences the prognosis of elderly inpatients with major depression, and, if so, whether this effect is related to social support. METHOD: A total of 94 patients (71% women; mean age = 76) with DSM-IV major depression were assessed on admission to a psychogeriatric unit in Melbourne, and then reviewed at 6, 12 and 24 months. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale - short form, religiousness, using the five-item Duke University Religion Index, and social support using the Social Support Questionnaire. RESULTS: Just over one-third of the sample was highly intrinsically religious. High intrinsic religiosity on admission predicted lower depression scores at 24 months (standardised beta = 0.252; P < 0.05). Intrinsic religiosity's effect was independent of social support as well as other demographic, treatment and health variables. CONCLUSION: Intrinsic religiosity (i.e. a person's commitment to and motivation by religious beliefs) predicts lower depression scores over time among inpatients with geriatric depression. Psychogeriatricians should consider a patient's religious history in order to make informed judgements about depression prognosis.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether religiousness, in particular intrinsic religiosity, influences the prognosis of elderly inpatients with major depression, and, if so, whether this effect is related to social support. METHOD: A total of 94 patients (71% women; mean age = 76) with DSM-IV major depression were assessed on admission to a psychogeriatric unit in Melbourne, and then reviewed at 6, 12 and 24 months. Depression was measured using the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale - short form, religiousness, using the five-item Duke University Religion Index, and social support using the Social Support Questionnaire. RESULTS: Just over one-third of the sample was highly intrinsically religious. High intrinsic religiosity on admission predicted lower depression scores at 24 months (standardised beta = 0.252; P < 0.05). Intrinsic religiosity's effect was independent of social support as well as other demographic, treatment and health variables. CONCLUSION: Intrinsic religiosity (i.e. a person's commitment to and motivation by religious beliefs) predicts lower depression scores over time among inpatients with geriatric depression. Psychogeriatricians should consider a patient's religious history in order to make informed judgements about depression prognosis.