OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of depressed patients living in a Japanese leprosarium who have been isolated by national law and are now becoming very elderly.
METHODS: We surveyed the prevalence of depressed patients living in the National Tamazenshouen Sanatorium, a major leprosarium in Japan. We also investigated the characteristics of patients who had suffered a depressive episode during the last 5 years (2000-2004). The characteristics of residents who committed suicide were also studied.
RESULTS: At the time of the investigation, 48 out of 385 (12.5%) patients were depressed or had experienced a depressive episode. Forty-one residents had committed suicide since the leprosarium was established in 1907. Somatic symptoms and depressive moods were the predominant symptoms and were not limited to symptoms unique to leprosy. The period of isolation was not statistically correlated with the GDS-SF or PGC morale scale scores.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of consultation psychiatric for elderly leprosy residents and could be used as a reference for treatment in countries with ageing leprosy residents.
BT - Leprosy review C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17172000?dopt=Abstract CN - NISHIDA 2006 DA - 2006 Sep IS - 3 J2 - Lepr Rev LA - eng N2 -OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of depressed patients living in a Japanese leprosarium who have been isolated by national law and are now becoming very elderly.
METHODS: We surveyed the prevalence of depressed patients living in the National Tamazenshouen Sanatorium, a major leprosarium in Japan. We also investigated the characteristics of patients who had suffered a depressive episode during the last 5 years (2000-2004). The characteristics of residents who committed suicide were also studied.
RESULTS: At the time of the investigation, 48 out of 385 (12.5%) patients were depressed or had experienced a depressive episode. Forty-one residents had committed suicide since the leprosarium was established in 1907. Somatic symptoms and depressive moods were the predominant symptoms and were not limited to symptoms unique to leprosy. The period of isolation was not statistically correlated with the GDS-SF or PGC morale scale scores.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of consultation psychiatric for elderly leprosy residents and could be used as a reference for treatment in countries with ageing leprosy residents.
PY - 2006 SP - 203 EP - 9 T2 - Leprosy review TI - Prevalence and characteristics of depression in a Japanese leprosarium from the viewpoints of social stigmas and ageing. A preliminary report. UR - https://leprosyreview.org/article/77/3/20-3209 VL - 77 SN - 0305-7518 ER -