The effect of age of onset on depression in the elderly.

In an attempt to examine the effects of age and age of onset on depressive illness, the records of 55 psychiatric inpatients with an average age of 77 years were reviewed. There was no correlation between age and presence of psychosis, severe cognitive impairment, positive family history, length of hospitalization, treatment, or treatment response. When the cases were grouped on the basis of age of first admission, only the rates of family history were significantly different. Although age per se may have little influence on the nature of depressive illness, age of onset may be important in distinguishing different types of depressive illness in the elderly, which suggests implications for treatment and prognosis.