Introduction: The most common mental disorders in elderly, beside dementia, are depression and anxiety, which are important public health problem, although they are diagnosed and treated in under 20% of the population. Mental health care for elderly is one of the indicators of quality or omissions in the health system of a country. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the incidence of depression and anxiety among the elderly in the Livno area. Material and Methods: Across-sectional study was carried out in the Livno area through June 2017 on a sample of 100 respondents (N=100). Inclusion criteria: age over 65 years. Exclusion criteria: persons with malignancy, persons with psychiatric diagnosis or dementia. Research tools used: Questionnaire on sociodemographic status and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Self Evaluation Scale (HAD). Results: More than 90% of the respondents of both genders were estimated to be borderline depressed or depressed. There was a higher incidence of depression among male respondents, and anxiety among female respondents. Probably and borderline anxiety is recorded in 84% of respondents, which exceed the results of all available literature data. Religious habits have no influence on the occurrence of depression but there is a connection between prayer and anxiety occurrence. Conclusion: This research has established an extremely high incidence of depression and anxiety among the elderly in the Livno area. The results of the available studies indicate significantly lower rates of occurrence than in the tested sample. Socioeconomic status did not prove to be a significant predictor of the occurrence of these disorders.
Key words: older adults, depression, anxiety.
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