Somatic Complaints in Older Adults: Aging Process or Symptoms of Depression?

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of somatic symptoms on a new measure of depression designed specifically for older adults. Resent research has shown somatic symptoms to be accurate predictors of depression in older adults, yet they have been excluded from measures assessing depression in older adults. Somatic symptoms have been omitted because of the problem of distinguishing specific symptoms related to depression in older adults, than symptoms that reflect physical decline due to aging or illness. The purpose of this present study was to test the reliability and validity of a new depression measure that does not exclude somatic symptoms. Two studies were conducted, a preliminary study which examined the reliability of the new measure. Based on those results, the scale was modified for the primary study, which reassessed the scale reliability and examined scale validity. Participants in the primary study were older adults living in nursing homes and in the community. They were given the new Adult Scale she designed. She was not only my teacher this year, but my mentor and I thank her for all the kind patience she had for me through out my frustrations.