A comparison of early-onset and late-onset depressive illness in the elderly.
Elderly patients with early-onset and late-onset depressive illness presenting to psychiatrists for treatment were compared for social, demographic, and clinical measures. For most factors measured no statistically significant differences were found. In the early-onset cases, patients were significantly more severely depressed. There was some evidence for the hypotheses that family history is less important and biological factors more important in late-onset depression. It is suggested that the latter hypothesis should be tested by a range of the newer neuroanatomical and neurophysiological laboratory investigations. The findings indicate that neuroticism is an important underlying factor in both early-onset and late-onset depression in the elderly.
Burvill
P W
PW
University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital.
Hall
W D
WD
Stampfer
H G
HG
Emmerson
J P
JP
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index