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The association of psychosocial factors and depression with hypertension among older adults
- Authors:
- BOSWORTH Hayden B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(12), December 2003, pp.1142-1148.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This article seeks to examine the relationship between depression and hypertension in an elderly population and how psychosocial variables influence this relationship. The study included 293 subjects, who met DSM-IV criteria for unipolar depression, and 151 subjects with no psychiatric disorder. All subjects were over the age of 58. Participants were administered the Duke Depression Evaluation Schedule at baseline and at yearly intervals for 3 years. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data showed that hypertensive patients were more likely to be depressed and of non-white race. Bivariate analyses provided evidence that hypertension was associated with higher amounts of total stressors and lower social support. No differences in the prevalence of hypertension were found between men and women. In addition, there was no evidence of change in hypertension status over time. Patients, especially minorities, who experience depression, stress, or a lack of social support, are at an increased likelihood of having hypertension and clinicians should consider this risk when treating this population.
The impact of religious practice and religious coping on geriatric depression
- Authors:
- BOSWORTH Hayden B., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(10), October 2003, pp.905-914.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Both religiousness and social support have been shown to influence depression outcome, yet some researchers have theorized that religiousness largely reflects social support. We set out to determine the relationship of religiousness with depression outcome after considering clinical factors. Elderly patients (n = 114) in the MHCRC for the Study of Depression in Late Life while undergoing treatment using a standardized algorithm were examined. Patients completed measures of public and religious practice, a modified version of Pargament's RCOPE to measure religious coping, and subjective and instrument social support measures. A geriatric psychiatrist completed the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at baseline and six months. Both positive and negative religious coping were related to MADRS scores in treated individuals, and positive coping was related to MADRS six months later, independent of social support measures, demographic, and clinical measures (e.g. use of electro-convulsive therapy, number of depressed episodes). Public religious practice, but not private religious practice was independently related to MADRS scores at the time of completion of the religiousness measures. Religious coping was related to social support, but was independently related to depression outcome. Clinicians caring for older depressives should consider inquiring about spirituality and religious coping as a way of improving depressive outcomes.