CHSU Discovery

Background:

20% of older adults experiencing mental and neurological disorders.During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shelter-in-place orders, loneliness and social isolation were higher than ever before.

Depression is commonly underdiagnosed in the older adult population; it is hypothesized that this is due to depressive symptoms commonly co-existing with other problems or comorbidities occurring in this population, as well as the issue of mental health still being a highly stigmatized topic that patients may be uncomfortable bringing up on their own.

There are numerous studies showing that the PHQ-9 is an effective screening tool for depression. However, with mental health still being highly stigmatized, patients may feel inclined to answer “no” to these questions when they know they are being asked about their mental health.