Late-Life Depression in Rural and Urban Residents

A recent study, appearing in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, examined correlated and independent factors of late-life depression in rural and urban residents. 926 Medicare patients (650 urban and 276 rural) self-enrolled in this randomized, controlled study. Researchers used the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to determine major depression. 8.3% of rural and 14.8% of urban patients met criteria for major depression. Rural patients, as compared with urban patients, with 0-1 close friends or ≥ 2 emergency room visits within 6 months were 6.86 times and 4.00 times more likely, respectively, to demonstrate major depression symptoms. Also, financial strain increased odds of major depression by 1.50 times. http://ajgponline.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/1/28

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