Abstract | BACKGROUND: Risk factors of depression in later life, particularly for sub-cases and for psychotic and neurotic types of depression, are unclear. AIMS: To identify such risk factors. METHOD: Over 5200 older people (> or = 65 years), randomly selected from Liverpool, were interviewed using the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The computer-assisted diagnosis AGECAT identified 483 cases and 575 sub-cases of depression and 2451 with no mental problems. Logistic regression was employed to examine factors relevant to caseness. RESULTS: In multiple logistical regression, odds ratios ( ORs) were significantly high for being female (2.04, 95% CI 1.56-2.69), widowed (2.00, 1.18-3.39), having alcohol problems (4.37, 1.40-2.94), physical disablement (2.03, 1.40-2.94), physical illness (1.98, 1.25-3.15), taking medications to calm down (10.04, 6.41-15.71), and dissatisfaction with life (moderate 4.54, 3.50-5.90; more severe 29.00, 16.00-52.59). Good social networks reduced the ORs. If sub-cases were included as controls, the statistical significance was reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Age was not associated with depression in later life whereas gender, physical disablement and dissatisfaction with life were. The sub-cases shared many risk factors with cases, suggesting that prevention may need to be attempted at an early stage.
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Authors | J R Copeland, R Chen, M E Dewey, C F McCracken, C Gilmore, B Larkin, K C Wilson |
Journal | The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science
(Br J Psychiatry)
Vol. 175
Pg. 340-7
(Oct 1999)
ISSN: 0007-1250 [Print] England |
PMID | 10789301
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Analysis of Variance
- Case-Control Studies
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Depressive Disorder
(epidemiology, etiology)
- Disabled Persons
- England
(epidemiology)
- Female
- Humans
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Odds Ratio
- Quality of Life
- Risk Factors
- Sex Factors
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