title: Depression, diagnostic sub-type and death: a 25 year follow-up study.
abstract: We assessed mortality rates over 25 years in 212 patients admitted for depression or depressive symptoms. More patients had died than expected (80 including 13 suicides; SMR = 1.40, P < 0.01). Females, but not males, experienced significantly higher mortality than the general population. When suicides were excluded, neither the group as a whole, nor females solely, demonstrated excess mortality. Rigorously diagnosed depressive sub-type did not predict mortality. Mortality, particularly from suicide, was disproportionately greater in the first 2 years after index admission, suggesting that the follow-up of patients hospitalised with depression must be especially assiduous during the years immediately after admission.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Psychogeriatrics, Prince Henry Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. h.brodaty@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brodaty
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: MacCuspie-Moore
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tickle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luscombe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data