[Depressive symptoms and associated factors in an elderly population in southern Brazil].

Objective: To determine the frequency of some depressive symptoms in the elderly, to build up a score of depressive symptoms and to evaluate the association between depressive symptoms and demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral variables.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in individuals aged 60 and more living in the urban city area of Pelotas, Brazil. The sample was selected in multiple stages based on the city's census tracts.