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Purpose: The purpose of the study presented is to evaluate the association between pesticides and depressive symptoms among a population exposed to chemicals as a result of agricultural use. Chronic sequelae of acute pesticide poisoning from organophosphate compounds may include anxiety and depression. In some states, farmers have been reported to have higher rates of depression than other population groups. Little work has been done to describe the effects of exposure to organophosphate compounds and depressive symptoms among the farming population.Methods: Data for this study came from a cross sectional survey of farmers and their spouses conducted in an eight county area in northeastern Colorado. Personal interviews were conducted with the study participants. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. Pesticides applied on the farms were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Conditional logistic regression was used to model the relationship between depression and pesticide-related illness in a stratified analysis.Results: Between 1992-1997, 761 individuals were enrolled in this cross sectional survey. Adjusting for a number of potential confounders, the odds ratio for depression associated with pesticide-related illness was 5.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.56-13.44].Conclusions: Exposure to pesticides at a high enough concentration to cause self reported poisoning symptoms was associated with high depressive symptoms independently of other known risk factors for depression among farm residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the association between workload, health status, social support, depression, and safety practices among farm residents. Depression may lead to inattention when performing farm tasks and may reduce the likelihood of engaging in safe practices. There is a paucity of studies examining factors that influence engaging in safety practices among farmers., Methods: Personal interviews were conducted with farm operators and spouses in an eight-county area in Colorado. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale was used to assess depression. Ten safety practices were assessed for those involved in farm work. Proportional odds and logistic regression were used to model the relationship between safety practices and modifiers of safety behavior., Results: A total of 761 individuals were enrolled, of these 710 were actively involved in farm work. In logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age and gender, CES-D scale depression was significantly associated with being in a high-risk category for: being calm around animals (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.23, 7.99); reading instruction manuals for farm machinery (OR, 2.73; CI, 1.14, 6.59); and keeping moving equipment parts shielded (OR, 5.38; CI, 1.96, 14.8)., Conclusions: Depression increased the probability of not exercising specific safety behaviors.