Relationship of physical disease and functional impairment to depression in older people.
Physical disease is commonly considered a risk factor for depression among older adults. However, this pattern is not consistently supported, and a theoretical framework for understanding such a relationship has not been articulated. P.M. Lewinsohn, H. Hoberman, L. Teri, and M. Hautzinger's (1985) integrative model of depression predicts that disease will be a risk factor for depression only when disease results in functional impairment, and that impairment in the absence of disease is also a risk factor for depression. The authors tested these predictions in a community-based sample of older adults followed longitudinally and found that functional impairment was a significant risk factor for depression, regardless of disease status. Disease was not a significant predictor of major depression, nor did it interact with impairment to predict depression.
Zeiss
A M
AM
Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, California 94304, USA. tmz@iserver.icon.palo-alto.med.va.gov
Lewinsohn
P M
PM
Rohde
P
P
Seeley
J R
JR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012803:Sick Role