Personality disorder symptoms predict declines in global functioning and quality of life in elderly depressed patients.
The authors evaluated personality disorder symptoms as predictors of change in global functioning and quality of life among elderly depressed patients. Treated elderly patients (N=40) who no longer met RDC criteria for major depression were assessed for personality disorders, depression, global functioning, and quality of life after treatment of the acute episode and at 1-year follow-up. In interaction with persisting or recurrent depression, Cluster B personality disorder symptoms contributed to declines in global functioning and quality of life over a 1-year period. Personality disorder symptoms in elderly patients appear to operate as co-factors that amplify or exacerbate the impact of residual depression on long-term functioning and quality of life.
Abrams
R C
RC
New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. rabrams@med.cornell.edu
Alexopoulos
G S
GS
Spielman
L A
LA
Klausner
E
E
Kakuma
T
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome