Abstract | OBJECTIVE: This 1-year follow-up survey of 214 medical inpatients aged 65 and older describes the outcome of major depressive episode ( MDE), determines the incidence of new episodes and identifies factors associated with outcome and with new episodes of MDE. METHOD: Follow-up information was obtained from 160 patients, 69 men and 91 women. RESULTS: Of the 48 cases of MDE who were interviewed, 44% improved. Underlying dysthymic disorder strongly influenced outcome: of 21 cases of MDE alone, 62% were improved at follow-up; of the 27 cases in which MDE was superimposed on dysthymic disorder initially, only 30% were improved. New episodes of MDE occurred in 21% of patients, and were associated with dysthymic disorder initially and with change of meaning of life. CONCLUSIONS: Among older medical inpatients, MDE, particularly when superimposed upon dysthymic disorder, is a persistent condition. Randomized trials are necessary to identify efficacious treatments.
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Authors | F R Fenton, M G Cole, F Engelsmann, I Mansouri |
Journal | International journal of geriatric psychiatry
(Int J Geriatr Psychiatry)
Vol. 12
Issue 3
Pg. 389-94
(Mar 1997)
ISSN: 0885-6230 [Print] England |
PMID | 9152726
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Activities of Daily Living
(psychology)
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Depressive Disorder
(diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology)
- Dysthymic Disorder
(diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Frail Elderly
(psychology, statistics & numerical data)
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Ontario
(epidemiology)
- Patient Admission
(statistics & numerical data)
- Personality Assessment
- Recurrence
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