Clinician Article
Is depression in old age fatal only when people feel lonely?
PMID: 15625218
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PsychiatryRelevance - 6/7
Newsworthiness - 5/7 -
FM/GP/Mental HealthRelevance - 5/7
Newsworthiness - 5/7 -
GeriatricsRelevance - 4/7
Newsworthiness - 4/7
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The impact of depression and perceived loneliness in the oldest old is largely unknown. The authors studied the relationship between the presence of depressive symptoms and all-cause mortality in old age, especially the potential distorting effect of perceived loneliness.
METHOD: Within a prospective population-based study of 85-year-olds, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and the Loneliness Scale were annually applied in all 476 participants with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 18 points or more.
RESULTS: Depression was present in 23% and associated with marital state, institutionalization, and perceived loneliness. When depression and perceived loneliness were assessed during follow-up, neither depression nor perceived loneliness had a significant effect on mortality. However, those who suffered from both depression and feelings of loneliness had a 2.1 times higher mortality risk.
CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the increased mortality risk attributable to depression in the presence of perceived loneliness may result from motivational depletion.
Clinical Comments
FM/GP/Mental Health
Depression being a possible killer is controversial enough without suggesting (from this relatively weak study) that you also need to be lonely.
FM/GP/Mental Health
Not terribly surprising results. However, some colleagues may need informing that depression and social isolation are associated with increased mortality.
FM/GP/Mental Health
Very interesting article. Intuitive and well conducted work with implications for interventions in the very elderly who are lonely as well as depressed.
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