Lifetime course of chronic depression in older men.
The lifetime course of illness in older outpatient men who remained symptomatic despite adequate pharmacologic treatment for depression was examined. A bimodal distribution of age of onset of first major depression was found, with 75% having onset before age 35 years and 25% having onset after age 50 years. At all ages, episodes of chronic depression developed after episodes of major depression and appeared to be partially resolved major depression. In 88% of patients, anxiety disorders developed before age 35 years, preceded onset of other disorders, and continued throughout the patient's lifetime. Seventy percent developed alcoholism and 25% had a medical illness that impaired function to a significant degree. The importance of obtaining a lifetime course of illness in older patients is discussed.
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
R M
RM
Rohrbaugh
D E
DE
Sholomskas
E L
EL
Giller
D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors