HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ALL ISSUES SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cole, M. G. Articles by Belzile, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cole, M. G. Articles by Belzile, E.

The Prognosis of Major and Minor Depression in Older Medical Inpatients

From the Department of Psychiatry, St. Mary's Hospital and McGill University (MGC); the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, St. Mary's Hospital, and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University (JM, EB); the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Therapy, McGill University and Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, St. Mary's Hospital (AC); the Division of Geriatric Medicine, SMBD Jewish General Hospital and McGill University (SW); and Policy and Population Health Research Theme, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec and McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (EL).

Background: Major and minor depression is frequent in older medical inpatients, but the prognosis of these two disorders is not clear. The current study proposed to determine the prognosis of major and minor depression in this population.

Method: This prospective, observational cohort study, conducted in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, involved assessment of 380 elderly medical inpatients with major, minor, or no depression at three, six, and 12 months after enrollment using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria. Information on suicide attempts, completed suicides, and potential prognostic factors was also collected. Analysis of outcomes and potential prognostic factors involved descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression.

Results: Among patients with major depression at enrollment, 13% were recovered, 14% were partially recovered, and 73% remained depressed with a protracted stable or protracted fluctuating course. Among patients with minor depression, 28% were recovered and 72% had a protracted course. Patients diagnosed with major depression at enrollment often had minor depression at follow up and vice versa.

Conclusion: The prognosis of both major and minor depression in older medical inpatients is poor and worse than previously thought.

Key Words: Depression • prognosis • aged medical inpatients

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. G. Cole, J. McCusker, A. Ciampi, and E. Belzile Risk Factors for Major Depression in Older Medical Inpatients: A Prospective Study Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, February 1, 2008; 16(2): 175 - 178. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]