To compare the characteristics of the typology and frequency of depressive disorders in elderly patients of nursing care department and hospice.

Two groups of the patients:- 1) 49 persons (19 male and 30 female, mean = 73,17±7,13 yrs) hospitalized due to incurable oncopathology for palliative care in the hospice and 2) 101 patients of the nurse care department (19 male and 82 female, mean = 75,21 ± 8,2 yrs) with complex combined somatic pathology, being in the hospital with necessity of assistance rendering or validation of medical documents into nursing home - were questioned according to Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). The inclusion criterions were the ability to understand the text of the questionnaire and the wish to answer to one.

the depressive disorders have been detected to 65,3% patients of the first group and to 69,39% patients of second group. Comparative analysis of affective disorders prevalence has shown a statistically significant data on a more frequent occurrence of recurrent depressive disorder in patients with oncological diseases, whereas patients with other somatic pathology were more frequently determined by the organic affective disorder (p = 0,00593).

Performed investigation has shown a high incidence of disorders of depressive spectrum in elder patients of palliative care hospital. Screening revealing of depressive disorders reaches important aims such as objectification of clinical diagnosis of mental status and efficacy of psychopharmacotherapy, promotes more empathic response of secondary staff to emotional needs of incurable patient.