Cognitive impairment and social distress as different pathways todepression in the elderly: A cross-sectional study
J.A. Cervilla
Bok Engelsk 1997
| Utgitt | 1997
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| Omfang | Side 995- 1000
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| Opplysninger | Background. This study investigates the recent suggestion that someputative aetiological factors for depression, such as cerebraldeterioration and social distress, may act differentially in theaetiology of depression in old age.Method. In a cross-sectional study, a community sample of 654 elderlysubjects were interviewed with Short-CARE to assess the prevalence ofdepression and cognitive impairment. Information was collected for avariety of potential risk factors for depression such as exposure tosocial support deficit, threatening life events, impairment,disability and handicap.Results. The prevalence of depression was 17% and that of a broadconcept of cognitive impairment 23.9%, This analysis foundassociations between depression and exposure to social supportdeficits and threatening life events in the year prior to interview.These associations were considerably stronger for those subjects withno cognitive impairment than for those with cognitive impairment. Wealso found a progressive lowering in the strength of theseassociations the higher the chance of cognitive impairment measuredas a longitudinal variable using both the Dementia Diagnostic Scale(DDS) and the Organic Brain Syndrome Scale (OBS) included in Short-CARE.Conclusions. The results of this theory-driven analysis lend somesupport to the notion of at least two differential pathways todepression in the elderly, one via social distress factors andanother mediated by cerebral deterioration clinically expressed ascognitive impairment. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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