1975older people living in Razavi Khorasan province were studied using the cluster sampling method. The Persian version of GDS was completed based on filling in questionnaires and after recognition of sample size of each city. Admission and data analyzing was followed by examining the relationship between depression and place of living (rural and urban), education, gender, type of living (alone or with family), occupation, source of income, supporting system (such as charities)

The subjects' mean (±SD) age was 71.14+7.78 years (range: 60-98) and 52.9 of the subjects were women. According GDS score, 23.5% of the subjects were at risk of depression. The GDS score was significantly related to type of living (alone or with family) and source of income, and supporting system (such as charities). The percentage of depression was higher in subjects living alone than those living with others (P<0.01, respectively). There are significant differences between depression scores in elderly with family support, others, personal wealth and retirement salary (p<0.01).

Depressive symptoms are common among community-dwelling elders in Iran, and with its identical demographic characteristics, we suggest depression may be related to some factors including living alone and to source of income, and supporting system.