Nishida M, Nakamura Y, Aosaki N
National Tamazenshouen Sanatorium, 4-1-1 Aoba-cho, Higashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 189-8550, Japan.
Lepr Rev. 2006 Sep;77(3):203-9.
To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of depressed patients living in a Japanese leprosarium who have been isolated by national law and are now becoming very elderly.
We surveyed the prevalence of depressed patients living in the National Tamazenshouen Sanatorium, a major leprosarium in Japan. We also investigated the characteristics of patients who had suffered a depressive episode during the last 5 years (2000-2004). The characteristics of residents who committed suicide were also studied.
At the time of the investigation, 48 out of 385 (12.5%) patients were depressed or had experienced a depressive episode. Forty-one residents had committed suicide since the leprosarium was established in 1907. Somatic symptoms and depressive moods were the predominant symptoms and were not limited to symptoms unique to leprosy. The period of isolation was not statistically correlated with the GDS-SF or PGC morale scale scores.
The findings of this study emphasize the importance of consultation psychiatric for elderly leprosy residents and could be used as a reference for treatment in countries with ageing leprosy residents.
调查居住在日本麻风病疗养院中，依据国家法律被隔离且现已年事很高的抑郁症患者的患病率及特征。
我们对居住在日本主要麻风病疗养院——国立多摩川疗养院的抑郁症患者患病率进行了调查。我们还调查了过去5年（2000 - 2004年）中曾经历过抑郁发作的患者的特征。对自杀居民的特征也进行了研究。
在调查时，385名患者中有48名（12.5%）患有抑郁症或曾经历过抑郁发作。自1907年该麻风病疗养院成立以来，有41名居民自杀。躯体症状和抑郁情绪是主要症状，且不限于麻风病特有的症状。隔离时间与老年抑郁量表简版（GDS - SF）或生活满意度指数量表（PGC）的情绪评分无统计学相关性。
本研究结果强调了为老年麻风病患者提供精神科咨询的重要性，可为有老龄化麻风病患者的国家的治疗提供参考。
