Centre for Policy on Ageing



Early onset and late onset depression in older adults — psychological perspectives
Author(s)	Jemma Boyd, Fionnuala McKiernan, Glenn Waller
Journal title	Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, vol 10, no 2, May 2000
Pages	pp 149-160
Keywords	Depression ; Early ; Over 70s ; Mental health [elderly] ; Literature reviews.
Annotation	"Early onset" refers to depression in older adults who have experienced at least one episode of depression prior to late life. "Late life" refers to depression in older adults who have not experienced depression until old age. Although there is clear evidence that social and biological factors are associated with both early- and late-onset depression, the focus of this review is on psychological perspectives distinguishing between early and late onset. Drawing on the cognitive model, it has been predicted that late-onset depression will be associated with greater levels of stress, whereas early-onset depression will be associated with more significant levels of cognitive vulnerability. There is some evidence that early- and late-onset depression can be differentiated on the basis of internal vulnerability and life stressors. However, the role of cognitions and stress in early- and late-onset depression provides an almost untouched area of research. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-001130205 A
Classmark	ENR: 4J: BBK: D: 64A
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.