T A Tuma1. 1. Tees & North East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Hartlepool General Hospital.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Direct comparisons of the prognosis for treated depression in adult and elderly cohorts are few, but suggest higher morbidity and mortality in the elderly. AIMS: To examine outcome in two such groups after 4.5 years and compare results with those reported elsewhere. METHOD: Fifty-six adults (aged under 65) and 54 elderly people (over 65) with primary depression were assessed 4.5 years after receiving hospital treatment, and factors influencing the outcome were explored. RESULTS: Recovery rates were higher in the adults than in the elderly (42.8% v. 24%), largely due to higher rates of death (33%) and dementia (14.8%) in the latter group, who also suffered more serious health problems (62.9% v. 28.5%). Survival analysis showed no difference in the recovery time between cohorts, with over 90% recovered after 25 weeks. After deducting the natural deaths, melancholic illness proved a poor outcome predictor in the adults. CONCLUSIONS: The outlook for elderly depressed patients is poorer than for younger patients because of concurrent physical disease, a higher death rate and the development of dementia.
BACKGROUND: Direct comparisons of the prognosis for treated depression in adult and elderly cohorts are few, but suggest higher morbidity and mortality in the elderly. AIMS: To examine outcome in two such groups after 4.5 years and compare results with those reported elsewhere. METHOD: Fifty-six adults (aged under 65) and 54 elderly people (over 65) with primary depression were assessed 4.5 years after receiving hospital treatment, and factors influencing the outcome were explored. RESULTS: Recovery rates were higher in the adults than in the elderly (42.8% v. 24%), largely due to higher rates of death (33%) and dementia (14.8%) in the latter group, who also suffered more serious health problems (62.9% v. 28.5%). Survival analysis showed no difference in the recovery time between cohorts, with over 90% recovered after 25 weeks. After deducting the natural deaths, melancholic illness proved a poor outcome predictor in the adults. CONCLUSIONS: The outlook for elderly depressedpatients is poorer than for younger patients because of concurrent physical disease, a higher death rate and the development of dementia.
Authors: Jerusha B Detweiler-Bedell; Michael A Friedman; Howard Leventhal; Ivan W Miller; Elaine A Leventhal Journal: Clin Psychol Rev Date: 2008-09-09
Authors: Michael Maes; Michael Berk; Lisa Goehler; Cai Song; George Anderson; Piotr Gałecki; Brian Leonard Journal: BMC Med Date: 2012-06-29 Impact factor: 8.775