Views of elderly patients on cardiopulmonary resuscitation before and after treatment for depression.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate elderly patients decision to accept cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before and after treatment for depression.


METHODS
A Prospective cohort study set within a specialist psychiatrist hospital for the elderly. The subjects were 50 consecutively admitted day and in-patients with depression. Changes in the acceptability of CPR between baseline and end of treatment for depression together with patient characteristics were measured and compared.


RESULTS
49 patients completed the study; all but one of the 17 patients who initially declined CPR accepted once recovered and none who initially accepted later changed their minds (p=0.0001.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates that depressed elderly people frequently decline CPR but accept after recovery from depression. The presence of depression should be specifically considered if an elderly person unexpectedly declines CPR.
Eggar
Richard
R
Worcestershire Community and Mental Health Trust, Malvern, UK. Richard.Eggar@virgin.net
Spencer
Amanda
A
Anderson
David
D
Hiller
Louise
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D028761:Withholding Treatment