HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harralson, T. L. Articles by Johnson, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Harralson, T. L. Articles by Johnson, J. C.

Similarities and Differences in Depression Among Black and White Nursing Home Residents

Received June 1, 2001; revised February 1, 2001; accepted February 7, 2001. From the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Division on Geriatric Psychiatry, and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Genesis Health Care System, Kennett Square, PA. Address reprint requests to Dr. Tina L. Harralson, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Division on Geriatric Psychiatry, 3600 Market Street, Room 762, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: harralso{at}mail.med.upenn.edu

The authors examined racial similarities and differences in depressive symptomatology, diagnosis, and the predictors of depression in four independent nursing homes, conducting analyses across all sites and separately for the nursing home with the greatest racial balance (NH4). All-site data indicated that white residents showed more depression than black residents. There were no racial differences in the depression diagnosis derived from a structured interview of DSM-III-R. At NH4, there were no statistically significant racial differences in any of the measures of depression. Across sites, functional disability was the strongest predictor of both Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and DSM-III-R diagnosis of depression in both blacks and whites. Cognitive impairment and use of antidepressants were predictive of medical chart diagnosis of depression across sites, but not of depression measured by GDS or DSM-III-R criteria. At NH4, functional disability was predictive of GDS depression, but only among whites. Age was not an important predictor of depression. Results indicate the importance of considering the method used to diagnose depression and the necessity of controlling for the nursing home setting when examining racial differences in depression.

Key Words: Depression • Nursing Home Residents • Racial, Demographic Factors

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. G. Koenig, J. Vandermeer, A. Chambers, L. Burr-Crutchfield, and J. L. Johnson Comparison of Major and Minor Depression in Older Medical Inpatients With Chronic Heart and Pulmonary Disease Psychosomatics, August 1, 2006; 47(4): 296 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Jang, A. R. Borenstein, D. A. Chiriboga, and J. A. Mortimer Depressive Symptoms Among African American and White Older Adults J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., November 1, 2005; 60(6): P313 - P319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]