An Exploratory Study of Depression Among Older African American Users of an Academic Outpatient Rehabilitation Program

Variation in the presentation of depressive illness among older African Americans may complicate assessment of depression, especially among those with multiple medical comorbidities and functional disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of depression among older poor African Americans attending an academic outpatient rehabilitation program, using a depression measure with low somatic item content. Correlates of depression in this population also were explored. Health-care records of 150 older African Americans seen over a 2-year period were examined. Depression was assessed on admission using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Using a GDS cutoff score for depression of 11 or higher, 30% of the sample (age 75.5 ± 7.16 years, range 65–95, 75% women) scored positive for depression. Nine percent also reported having suicidal thoughts within the previous week. Consistent with existing literature, depressed patients, as compared to nondepressed patients, were significantly younger, more suicidal, more likely to rate their general health as poor, had higher mean ratings of pain, and more often limited their social activities. Six GDS items were found to have little ability to discriminate between depressed and nondepressed patients: satisfaction with life, getting bored easily, prefer staying at home, find life exciting, getting started on new projects, and full of energy. The authors recommend further testing of the GDS with similar populations of older, poor, medically ill, and functionally disabled older adults.