title: Predictors of length of hospital stay for patients with late-onset depression in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The length of hospital stay (LOHS) for elderly patients tends to be long. We aimed to identify factors related to long hospitalization periods for elderly Japanese patients with late-onset depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively examined 133 patients with late-onset depression. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to confirm the relationship between each clinical feature and the duration of hospital stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean LOHS was 83.9 ± 55.6 days. On the basis of univariate analysis, we found that living as a housewife, death of a close relative or friend, recurrent depression, melancholic features, and treatment with electroconvulsive therapy, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants or mood stabilizer were associated with a longer LOHS. Multivariate analysis showed that treatment with tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants, atypical antipsychotics were associated with prolonged LOHS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that job status, changes in household circumstances and the failure of initial treatment is responsible for the long LOHS in Japan.
authors: The Department of Psychiatry, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Kato
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: elderly depression; geriatric psychiatry; late-onset depression; length of hospital stay; life events