Major depressive disorder (MDD) in the older adults is correlated with a significant decline in daily physical activity, consequently resulting in chronically impaired quality of life and an increased exposure to falls-risk.

Establishing whether geriatric depression Scale (GDS) scores, found correlated with dual motor tasks (TUGTMAN), are also correlated under the cognitive test constraints (TUGCOG).

The study aimed to analyse the relationship of MDD symptoms, the number of depressive episodes and hospitalisations, with the efficiency of gait in single and dual task conditions, motor and cognitive, functional capabilities.

The study was conducted in the outpatient clinic, university hospital, department of psychiatry, Krakow, on 30 patients over 60 years of age presenting recurrent MDD. The assessment consisted of GDS, MMSE, TUGT, TUGMAN, TUGCOG, 30sChS, SLS. Spearman rho rank correlation was applied to determine the relationship between the variables.

Statistical analysis showed a significant association between the intensity of depressive symptoms expressed in the GDS and the number of completed episodes and depression and TUGT. The number of hospitalisations was associated with gait under motor (TUGMAN) and cognitive (TUGCOG) constraints.

Duration of the disorder and the number of hospital admissions are related to the functional efficiency of the single and dual-task performance in the persons suffering from this disorder for at least 10 years. Aged persons should effectively be encouraged to undertake physical activities.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.