Screening for common mental disorder in elderly residents in the countryside: a cross-sectional study

Tainara Catozzi Denardi, Roselma Lucchese, Graciele Cristina Silva, Moisés Fernandes Lemos, Valéria Pagotto, Johnatan Martins Sousa, Ivânia Vera

To estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders and their associated factors in the elderly in a municipality in the countryside of the Brazilian Midwest. Quantitative, observational, cross-sectional approach research, conducted with 218 elderly people. The prevalence of the common mental disorder among the elderly was 25.1%; in the univariate analysis, it was higher in females (35.4%), in the age group of 80 years or older (46.1%), brown skin color (30.2%), widowed (42.6%), illiterate (47.6%), and retired (27.6%). In the multiple analysis, the variables female gender (p<0.006), age 80 years or older (p<0.036), dissatisfaction with life (p<0.009), lack of social interaction (p=0.017), and dysfunctional family (p=0.021) remained associated with CMD. The results revealed are helpful and contribute to the reinforcement of the need for mental health care in this population extract so growing worldwide.