抄録
Depression is a mental problem in elderly dental patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between oral status and depressive symptoms among elderly patients. The authors assessed depressive symptoms among dental patients with Zung's Self Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Subjects were 220 patients (88 men and 132 women, average age 74.5yr) who visited the Gerodontic Clinic of Tokyo Medical and Dental University. The cut-off point for depression in a geriatric population is 48. A factor analysis was done, and four factors were obtained: quality of life (QOL), depressive mood, instability of emotion and sociability.
The results were as follows:
1. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 5.9%.
2. The SDS and depressive mood scores were significantly higher in women than in men.
3. The SDS and QOL scores were significantly higher in upper edentulous patients than in other patients.
4. The SDS and QOL scores were significantly higher in upper complete denture wearers than in other patients.
The results suggested that residual teeth are important for good life of the elderly.
