Risk Factors and Psychosocial Consequences in Depression of Octo- and Nonagenerians: Results of an Epidemiological Study

Overview

Journal Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 1997 Jan 1

PMID 9444498

Citations 2

Authors

I Meller

M M Fichter

H Schroppel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In a two-wave community study in Munich, Germany, a representative sample of 402 people older than 85 years was restudied 1 year later. In the first cross section a total of 358 (89.1%) subjects were interviewed. One year later 263 (73.5%) subjects were reexamined. Several diagnostic systems were used. The probands showed a high prevalence of depression--nearly one quarter of the interviewees. In this extreme age group gender differences in depression were minimal. Depressive were distinctly impaired in daily life. Depressive probands were more often found in institutions than in private households. Depressives were high users of the medical care system, but very rarely treated by specialists. Need for care and certain specific especially threatening life events were identified as risk factors for depression.

Citing Articles

The Gender Difference in Depression: Are Elderly Women at Greater Risk for Depression Than Elderly Men?.

Girgus J, Yang K, Ferri C Geriatrics (Basel). 2019; 2(4).

PMID: 31011045 PMC: 6371140. DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics2040035.

Who is diagnosed as suffering from depression in the German statutory health care system? An analysis of health insurance data.

Bramesfeld A, Grobe T, Schwartz F Eur J Epidemiol. 2007; 22(6):397-403.

PMID: 17484028 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-007-9128-z.

References

Copeland J, Dewey M . A computerized psychiatric diagnostic system and case nomenclature for elderly subjects: GMS and AGECAT. Psychol Med. 1986; 16(1):89-99. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700057779. View

Schurman R, Kramer P, Mitchell J . The hidden mental health network. Treatment of mental illness by nonpsychiatrist physicians. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985; 42(1):89-94. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1985.01790240091010. View

Meller I, Fichter M, Witzke W . The role of the general practitioner in the care of mentally disturbed subjects in the general population--results of the Upper Bavarian Study. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1989; 35(4):293-302. DOI: 10.1177/002076408903500401. View

Widmer R, CADORET R . Depression in primary care: changes in pattern of patient visits and complaints during a developing depression. J Fam Pract. 1978; 7(2):293-302. View

Nielsen J, Nielsen J . Prevalence investigation of mental illness in the aged in 1961, 1972 and 1977 in a geographically delimited Danish population group. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1989; 348:95-104; discussion 167-78. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1989.tb05219.x. View

Turner R, Beiser M . Major depression and depressive symptomatology among the physically disabled. Assessing the role of chronic stress. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1990; 178(6):343-50. DOI: 10.1097/00005053-199006000-00001. View

Livingston G, Hawkins A, Graham N, Blizard B, Mann A . The Gospel Oak Study: prevalence rates of dementia, depression and activity limitation among elderly residents in inner London. Psychol Med. 1990; 20(1):137-46. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700013313. View

Emmerson J, Burvill P, Finlay-Jones R, Hall W . Life events, life difficulties and confiding relationships in the depressed elderly. Br J Psychiatry. 1989; 155:787-92. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.155.6.787. View

Blazer D, Hughes D, George L . Age and impaired subjective support. Predictors of depressive symptoms at one-year follow-up. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1992; 180(3):172-8. View

10.

Krause N . Positive life events and depressive symptoms in older adults. Behav Med. 1988; 14(3):101-12. DOI: 10.1080/08964289.1988.9935131. View

11.

Jorm A . Sex and age differences in depression: a quantitative synthesis of published research. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1987; 21(1):46-53. DOI: 10.3109/00048678709160898. View

12.

Meller I, Fichter M, Weyerer S . Use of psychiatric facilities in the Upper Bavarian follow-up field study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Neurol Sci. 1986; 236(2):88-93. DOI: 10.1007/BF00454017. View

13.

Harlow S, Goldberg E, Comstock G . A longitudinal study of risk factors for depressive symptomatology in elderly widowed and married women. Am J Epidemiol. 1991; 134(5):526-38. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116125. View

14.

ESSON-MOLLER E, Larsson H, UDDENBERG C, White G . Individual traits and morbidity in a Swedish rural population. Acta Psychiatr Neurol Scand Suppl. 1956; 100:1-160. View

15.

Coulton C, Frost A . Use of social and health services by the elderly. J Health Soc Behav. 1982; 23(4):330-9. View

16.

Brown G, Harris T . Social origins of depression: a reply. Psychol Med. 1978; 8(4):577-88. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700018791. View

17.

Henderson A, Grayson D, Scott R, Wilson J, Rickwood D, Kay D . Social support, dementia and depression among the elderly living in the Hobart community. Psychol Med. 1986; 16(2):379-90. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700009211. View

18.

Linn M, Hunter K, Harris R . Symptoms of depression and recent life events in the community elderly. J Clin Psychol. 1980; 36(3):675-82. DOI: 10.1002/1097-4679(198007)36:3<675::aid-jclp2270360312>3.0.co;2-n. View

19.

Hamilton M . Development of a rating scale for primary depressive illness. Br J Soc Clin Psychol. 1967; 6(4):278-96. DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1967.tb00530.x. View

20.

Horgan C . Specialty and general ambulatory mental health services. Comparison of utilization and expenditures. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985; 42(6):565-72. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1985.01790290047005. View