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Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 13:589-596, July 2005
© 2005 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Regular Article

Age and Gender in the Phenomenology of Depression

Henry Brodaty, M.B., B.S., M.D., FRACP, FRANZCP, Breda Cullen, B.A., M.Sc., Claire Thompson, B.A. (Hons.), MAPS, Philip Mitchell, M.B., B.S., M.D., FRCPsych, FRANZCP, Gordon Parker, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., FRANZCP, Kay Wilhelm, M.B., B.S., M.D., FRANZCP, Marie-Paule Austin, M.D., FRANZCP, MBBS, and Gin Malhi, M.B., Ch.B., B.Sc., MRCPsych, FRANZCP

Received November 9, 2003; revised June 18, July 29, 2004; accepted August 2, 2004. From the Academic Dept. for Old-Age Psychiatry (HB,BC,CT), the Mood Disorders Unit, Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia (HB,PM,GP,KW,MPA,GM), and the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (HB,PM,GP,KW,MPA,GM). Send correspondence and reprint requests to Prof. Henry Brodaty, Academic Dept. for Old-Age Psychiatry, Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, AUSTRALIA. e-mail: h.brodaty{at}unsw.edu.au
© 2005 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

Objective: Authors investigated the effects of current age, age at onset, and gender on the phenomenology of depression. Methods: A mixed-age sample of 810 Mood Disorders Unit attendees with a diagnosis of unipolar major depressive episode at or near its nadir were interviewed by clinician-rated and self-report instruments assessing symptoms and severity of depression. Results: Differences were found in depressive phenomenology according to current age but not age at onset, confirming previous findings. Age differences on several variables were found in women only. Subjective ratings of depression severity decreased with age, whereas objective, clinician-rated severity increased. Conclusions: The pattern and severity of depression change with increasing age. Longitudinal prospective studies would further elucidate this age–gender relationship. Clinicians should be aware of the decreased likelihood of older patients’ reporting of depressive symptoms themselves.

Key Words: Gender Issues • Estrogen • Depression






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