A Study of Factors Influencing Subjective Memory Complaints among Community Dwelling Elderly.
- Author:
Ui Sub LEE
1
;
Young Myo JAE
;
Sae Heon JANG
;
Jin Hyuk CHOI
;
Kyoung Hwan LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Bong Seng Memorial Hospital, Busan, Korea. leekyhw2@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Elderly;
Subjective memory complaints;
Depressive disorder;
Cognitive impairments
- MeSH:
Aged*;
Cognition Disorders;
Dementia;
Depression;
Depressive Disorder;
Depressive Disorder, Major;
Humans;
Independent Living*;
Memory*
- From:Journal of Korean Geriatric Psychiatry
2018;22(1):19-24
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: We examined the factors influencing subjective memory complaints among community dwelling elderly in urban area. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 160 community-dwelling elderly people without dementia and major depressive disorder. The questionnaires regarding the socio-demographic characteristics were conducted by each person. They include Korean version of Subjective Memory Complaints Questionnaires (SMCQ), Korean version of Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K) and Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). Subjective memory complaints were defined as above 4 points of SMCQ. RESULTS: 39.38% of the subjects had subjective memory complaints. There were significant associations between subjective memory complaints and SGDS-K (p < 0.001), physical illness (p=0.001), but there was no association with K-MMSE (p=0.383). CONCLUSION: There is a discrepancy between subjective memory complaints and actual cognitive impairments. This discrepancy suggests that the depressive disorders including minor depressive disorder and subsyndromal depression, might play a role in the subjective memory complaints rather than actual cognitive impairments in community-dwelling elderly people. Therefore, the treatments for the depressive disorders should be considered in dealing with the subjective memory complaints.
