DEPRESSION AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN THE ELDERLY IN A SPECIAL NURSING-HOME

Using a Japanese version of the Self-Rating Depression Scale by Zung (SDS) and the Quality of Life (QOL) rating scale designed by Iida et al. (QOL scale), we compared the QOL and depressive state of special nursing home residents and the elderly in the general community. The QOL scale has four categories: physical functioning, emotional adjustment, interpersonal relationships and attitudes toward life. High scores in either examination indicate a greater impairment. The SDS scores of the residents in the special nursing home were significantly lower than those of the elderly in the community, but the scores in 3 categories and the total score, except for those of physical functioning of the QOL, were significantly higher in the nursing home residents. In the nondepressed elderly rated by the SDS, the physical functioning score of the elderly in the community significantly exceeded that of the special nursing home residents. In the depressed elderly, all the scores including the total score were significantly higher than those in the special nursing home residents. Our results suggest that while the QOL of the depressed elderly in a special nursing home was poorer than that of the elderly in the community, their depression could be treated. However, the QOL cannot be improved by treatment alone.