2020, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A

author(s)
Dayana BAA, Pragathi H and Pasupathi AA

abstract
Elderly people often suffer from depression and it is highlighted as one of the most common and significant psychiatric problems. Among the factors linked to depression, the following stand out: being female, advanced age, low levels of education and living alone. In addition to the socio-demographic characteristics, which are well established in the literature, other factors are associated with depression, such as: smoking, co-morbidities (cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, oncological diseases), high levels of medicine use, functional incapacity, negative perception of own health, low levels of physical activity, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and a predominance of negative exchanges in relationships with family and friends. These factors, especially those that can be modified, need to be further explored, taking into account cultural differences between countries and regional differences within those countries, as in Brazil.