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Self-Report Measures of Mood and Morale in Elderly Depressives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

C. J. Gilleard ,
M. Willmott  and
K. S. Vaddadi
C. J. Gilleard
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
M. Willmott
Affiliation:
Sinclair Ward, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
K. S. Vaddadi
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leeds, Hyde Terrace, Leeds
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Summary

Two self-report scales of mood and morale were administered to 45 elderly in-patient depressives and 45 non-patient controls, matched for age and sex. The responses of the two groups differed significantly in the predicted direction. When 18 patients from the depressive group were re-tested 6 to 8 weeks later, at discharge, significant declines in self-reported depression, and increases in ‘life-satisfaction’ were reported. Within the depressive group, there was a significant relationship between ‘overt’ depressive behaviour on the ward and self-reporting of greater depressive symptoms, and lower ‘life-satisfaction’. The importance of independent validation of self-report measures of mood and morale in elderly populations is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 138 , Issue 3 , March 1981 , pp. 230 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1981 

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