title: Risk factors for depression in elderly people: a prospective study.
abstract: In 1982-1983 a random sample of 1486 people aged 65 years and above was generated from general practitioner lists; 1070 were interviewed in the community using the Geriatric Mental State and a Social History questionnaire. The cohort was followed up by interview 3 years later. At year 3 the diagnostic computer program AGECAT diagnosed 44 incident cases of depression. Information from the depressed group's initial and further interviews was compared with a control group (which excluded cases of affective or organic mental illness). Univariate analysis yielded three factors that were significantly associated with the development of depression 3 years later: a lack of satisfaction with life; feelings of loneliness; and smoking. Multivariate analysis confirmed their independent effects and revealed 2 further factors attaining significance: female gender and a trigger factor, bereavement of a close figure within 6 months of the third-year diagnosis. Some other factors traditionally associated with depression, such as poor housing, marital status and living alone, failed to attain significance as risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McWilliam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D008132:Loneliness; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology