The structure of late-life depressive symptoms across a 20-year span: a taxometric investigation.
Past studies of the underlying structure of depressive symptoms have yielded mixed results, with some studies supporting a continuous conceptualization and others supporting a categorical one. However, no study has examined this research question with an exclusively older adult sample, despite the potential uniqueness of late-life depressive symptoms. In the present study, the underlying structure of late-life depressive symptoms was examined among a sample of 1,289 individuals across 3 waves of data collection spanning 20 years. The authors employed a taxometric methodology using indicators of depression derived from the Research Diagnostic Criteria (R. L. Spitzer, J. Endicott, & E. Robins, 1978). Maximum eigenvalue analyses and inchworm consistency tests generally supported a categorical conceptualization and identified a group that was primarily characterized by thoughts about death and suicide. However, compared to a categorical depression variable, depressive symptoms treated continuously were generally better predictors of relevant criterion variables. These findings suggest that thoughts of death and suicide may characterize a specific type of late-life depression, yet a continuous conceptualization still typically maximizes the predictive utility of late-life depressive symptoms.
Center for Health Care Evaluation (152-MPD), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. jmhollnd@gmail.com
Jason M
JM
Holland
Kathleen K
KK
Schutte
Penny L
PL
Brennan
Rudolf H
RH
Moos
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents