Association between family history of affective disorder and the depressive syndrome of Alzheimer's disease.
For each of 41 index patients with probable Alzheimer's disease and a first episode of major depression and 71 nondepressed Alzheimer's disease patients, two first-degree relatives were interviewed by a rater blind to presence or absence of depression in the proband. The depressed patients had significantly more first- and second-degree relatives with depression than did control subjects. The lifetime risk for major depression, adjusted for differences in age distribution, was significantly greater in first-degree relatives of index patients, suggesting that depression in Alzheimer's disease is genetically related to primary affective disorder. Alzheimer's disease may be useful for studying aspects of depressive pathophysiology.
Pearlson
G D
GD
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Ross
C A
CA
Lohr
W D
WD
Rovner
B W
BW
Chase
G A
GA
Folstein
M F
MF
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data