Psychiatric morbidity in cohabitants of community-dwelling elderlydepressives
A. Denihan
Bok Engelsk 1998
| Utgitt | 1998
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| Omfang | Side 691- 694
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| Opplysninger | Objective. To determine the effect of living with a depressed elderlyindividual on the mental health of the cohabitant carer.Method. Case-control study comparing rates of psychiatric morbidityin cohabitants of depressed versus well elderly.Setting. Community sample.Participants. 44 couples, one partner with AGECAT depression, and 44couples, one partner diagnosed well by AGECAT. Cohabitants werematched for gender, age and physical health status. All subjects wereaged 65 years and over.Main outcome measure. Odds ratio of case or subcase depression and/orneurotic disorder in cohabitants of depressed elderly.Results. 28/44 (64%) cohabitants of depressed subjects were cases (N= 9) or subcases (N = 19) of depression, neurotic disorder or both,compared to 13/44 (29%) cases (N = 1) or subcases (N = 12) incohabitants of well subjects (OR = 6.33, 95% CI (1.7-18.3), p = <0.001).Conclusion. This study reveals high levels of psychiatric morbidity,primarily depression and anxiety symptoms, in the cohabitants ofdepressed community-dwelling elderly. This suggests that living witha depressed elderly person may have an adverse effect on the mentalhealth of the cohabitant. Increased recognition of the potential,psychiatric morbidity in this group is needed. (C) 1998 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd.
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