A prospective study of widowhood and changes in symptoms of depression in a community sample of the elderly.
This survey examines changes in depressive symptomatology (CES-D) during bereavement in 1046 elderly subjects, of whom 139 became widowed during follow-up. Depression scores increased during the first year of bereavement, but generally returned to pre-widowhood levels thereafter. However, depression scores remained elevated among young-old widows (65-74-year-olds) well after the first year of widowhood. Using cut-off scores, rates of high depressive symptoms remained somewhat elevated over baseline levels. Increases in depression scores during bereavement were not explained by socio-economic variables, health habits and health status. It is concluded that particularly young-old widows are at risk of developing chronic depressive symptomatology during bereavement that may warrant clinical attention.
Mendes de Leon
C F
CF
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8034.
Kasl
S V
SV
Jacobs
S
S
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology; D001601:Bereavement; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003237:Connecticut; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017805:Widowhood / Q000523:psychology*