Abstract

GONCALVES, Daniella et al. Somatic symptoms, depressive symptomatology and anxiety in elderly people. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2020, vol.21, n.1, pp.131-136. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/20psd210120.

Somatic symptoms are very common in older people and are often difficult to explain and treat. On the other hand, it is found that depression and anxiety in old age, also common in old age, are underdiagnosed and undertreated, and are frequently not regarded as a health problem by the elderly or the technicians. The main objective of this study is to analyze the association between depressive symptoms, anxiety and somatic symptoms. Method: This is a quantitative and cross-sectional study involving 91 elderly people, with a mean age of 78.40 (SD = 8.79), 56 women (35.5%) and 35 men (38.5%). A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Somatic Symptom Scale - 8, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory were applied. Results: Older people with depressive symptoms (U = 282.50; p <.01) and anxiety (U = 462.00; p < .01) have higher levels of somatic symptoms than older people who are not under these conditions. Depressive symptomatology is a predictive variable for the presence of somatic symptoms (β = 0.498; p <0.001). Discussion: The results of this investigation thus suggest the importance of considering other types of psychological symptoms, such as depressive symptomatology, in the evaluation and understanding of somatic complaints of the elderly.

Keywords : Aging; Somatic Symptoms; Depressive And Anxiety Symptomatology.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )