Progressive disability in senile dementia is accelerated in thepresence of depression
K. Ritchie
Bok Engelsk 1998
| Utgitt | 1998
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| Omfang | Side 459- 461
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| Opplysninger | Objectives. To assess the extent to which loss of ability to performeveryday activities in early stage senile dementia is worsened by thepresence of depressive illness.Methods. The evolution of disabilities is measured by an activityscale permitting observation of small changes in everyday performancein a cohort of 397 elderly persons with subclinical cognitivedeficit. Over the 3 years of the study, 11% of the cohort developeddementia without depression and 5% dementia with depression.Results. Progressive disablement was found to be greater in personswith senile dementia as compared to normal subjects. Depression alonehad no significant effect over the time period. Persons with bothsenile dementia and depression had significantly higher rates ofdisability at 3 years than persons with senile dementia alone.Significantly greater decrements across the observation period wereobserved in dressing, washing, use of telephone and continence in thesenile dementia-depression group only.Conclusion. Depression does not in itself engender significantdisability but interacts with senile dementia to accelerate loss offunctioning. Effective treatment of depressive illness in seniledementia may have significant impact on the prevalence and severityof disability. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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