Abstract: Objective To investigate the factors related to the depression in the retired old army officers in Beijing, to establish effective nursing intervention on these factors. Methods Various factors related to depression were investigate using questionnaire in 500 retired army officers. Results Among 500 subjects, 23.0% (115/500) were with minor depression, 6.4% (32/500) with moderate depression, while 1.6% with severe depression. Subjects whose wife were still alive had much less incurrence rate of depression than ones remarried or widowed. The less time after retirement and less satisfaction in life were other important factors related to depression. Conclusion Psychological care should be emphasized on widowed, freshly retired, or people feeling less satisfactory in life. Active nursing intervention should be applied to lower the harmful effect of depression on health.

Key words: retired, the elder, depression, nursing intervention