Simple steps to diagnosis at primary care centres.

The prevalence of depression in elderly people varies strongly with the diagnostic criteria and methodology used, but it is often reported 12-15%. During a period of 3 months 1189 patients at two primary care centres were asked to participate in a study there a Swedish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-20, were used. One-thousand and two patients were rated, and further analysis showed that 12.

Experience with a Swedish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale in primary care centres.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to use a Swedish version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-20) for diagnosis of depression in the elderly in primary care.

Design: Elderly consecutive patients visiting two primary care centres (> or = 65 years of age; N = 1189) were rated by educated nurses using the GDS-20.

Setting: All elderly patients attending two primary care centres in an urban-based community in the south of Sweden.

High incidence of polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis in a Swedish community.

The minimum incidence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) was studied during one year in a stable Caucasian population in southern Sweden. The data obtained show an incidence rate higher than that previously found in Sweden and almost as high as the rate recently found in Denmark. In addition, the finding of a low incidence of ocular complications during 3 years of follow-up suggests the positive influence of training primary health care physicians to identify and treat these patients early.