目的：本研究探討：(1) 榮家住民憂鬱症狀及憂鬱症的盛行率；(2) 分析相關危險因子；(3) 與台灣其他榮民的研究作一比較。 方法：針對兩所南台灣的榮家共1,313 位住民進行訪談，以簡短版老人憂鬱量表 (GDS-SF) 評估其憂鬱症狀，高或等於5 分者由3 位精神科專科醫師進行診斷性會談，以確定憂鬱症的盛行率。並評估受試者的認知功能、自殺傾向，及記錄個人基本背景和過去疾病史。 結果：共蒐集949 位個案（全為男性），其中憂鬱症狀盛行率為14.9%，憂鬱症盛行率為4.3%。相關危險因子方面，受過小學教育的榮民比受高等教育的榮民較不憂鬱 (OR=0.47)，而CDR 0.5 的榮民也比CDR 1~3 的榮民較為憂鬱 (OR=2.29)。 結論：本研究發現榮家住民的憂鬱症狀與教育程度及認知障礙程度有相關。然而幾個榮家研究顯示憂鬱症狀盛行率及相關因子有所差異，應進一步探討其原因。

Objective : The aims of this study are (A) to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and depressive disorders among those residing in veterans’homes, (B) to analyze the related risk factors, and (C) to compare these results with those reported by other studies on Taiwanese veterans. Methods : Our study sample comprised of 1,313 residents within two veterans’ homes in southern Taiwan whose depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF). Then, three psychiatrists did diagnostic interviews on GDS-positive (GDS?5) subjects to confi rm the presence of depressive disorders. Assessments were also to include the information of cognitive function, suicidality, personal background, and medical history. Results : Based on 949 male veterans the prevalence of depressive symptoms (GDS?5) was found to be 14.9%, and that of depressive disorders 4.3%. In analyzing the related risk factors, we found that veterans who had received only primary school education were less depressive than those with tertiary education (OR=0.47), and that those veterans with mild cognitive impairment (CDR 0.5) were found to be more depressive than those with more severe degrees of such impairment (CDR 1 to 3) (OR=2.29). Conclusion : The results of this study reveal a correlation between the educational level, degree of cognitive impairment and overall depressive symptoms of those residing in veterans’ homes. Further exploration is needed to clarify the underlying factors responsible for the differences between the results of the present study and those of several other studies on veterans’ homes in Taiwan.