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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Factors predicting the relapse of depression in old age | | Author(s) | Sirkka-Liisa Kivela, Petteri Viramo, Kimmo Pahkala |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 15, no 2, February 2000 |
| Pages | pp 112-119 |
| Keywords | Depression ; Addiction ; Longitudinal surveys ; Finland. |
| Annotation | Studies in mixed-aged populations show differences between the predictors of a relapse and those of a long-term course of depression, supporting the hypothesis about similar differences among older people. The present study aimed to identify factors predicting or related to a relapse to depression during a 4-year follow-up of 70 Finns aged 60+ who had recovered from depression during 15 months of treatment in primary health care. By the 4-year follow-up after recovery, 20 patients had relapsed and 50 were non-depressed. The logistic regression model showed major depression and psychomotor retardation to be independent predictors. Relapses were not related to stressors in life or physical illnesses. In clinical practice, major depressive older patients should be followed up, to detect and treat potential relapses as early as possible. Co-operation between psychiatrists and general practitioners (GPs) is needed in the follow-up. Theoretically, the results suggest the assumption of a biological aetiology of major depression. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-000502006 A |
| Classmark | ENR: ET: 3J: 76L |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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