The interaction between cerebrovascular disease and neuroticism in late-life depression: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Vascular disease and neuroticism are both risk factors for late-life depression. In this study we examined the interaction between vascular disease and neuroticism as determinants of clinically relevant depressive symptoms (CRDS) in late-life.


METHODS
Multivariate logistic regression in a survey of 1396 population-dwelling people aged ≥70 years. CRDS were defined as scoring ≥16 on the CES-D. Vascular disease was categorised into four levels: none, ≥2 vascular risk factors, cardiac disease or stroke.


RESULTS
Neuroticism was strongly associated with CRDS in women (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4-1.8). In men vascular disease interacted negatively but significantly with neuroticism (cardiac disease by neuroticism: OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9; stroke by neuroticism: OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-0.96) when predicting CRDS.


CONCLUSIONS
In men vascular disease attenuates the predictive value of neuroticism in CRDS, which might be mediated by apathy caused by cerebrovascular disease.
Wouts
L
L
Department of Psychiatry, Nijmegen Centre for Evidence-Based Practice, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands. l.wouts@psy.umcn.nl
Janzing
J G
JG
Lampe
I K
IK
Franke
B
B
de Vegt
F
F
Tendolkar
I
I
van Iersel
M B
MB
Buitelaar
J K
JK
Oude Voshaar
R C
RC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors