Odor perception has been studied in patients with various mental disorders; however, no consensus has been reached as to its detection, identification, or pleasantness/unpleasantness of odors especially in patients with depression. One hundred and nineteen normal elderly individuals living at home were exposed to odors of rose, perfume, white ginger, Indian ink, cigarette smoke, milk, feces and orange scent using the scratch and sniff method. They were asked to rate the strength of each odor, its pleasantness or unpleasantness, their liking for it, and their familiarity with it. They were also asked to complete a self-rating depression scale (SDS). The relationship of the score of each psychological olfactory scale with the SDS score and the difference in the score of each psychological scale between high-SDS and low-SDS groups are discussed.

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We assessed the mental health conditions of 217 subjects who took care of elders at home, using our depression scale by the surveillance of the elders living at home in Ibaraki Prefecture. An analysis was made on how depression in the caretakers was related with each item of demographical results of the caretakers and the elders living together at home, and with ADL, depression, dementia, personality change and the personality trait of the elders. Our study revealed that depression, personality change and the viscous character of the elders are three factors associated with depression in the female caretakers. Furthermore, we pointed out the necessity of an education campaign to provide the caretakers with information on the elders' personality and personality change for maintenance of the good mental health of the caretakers living with the elders.

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