A one‐year prognosis of dysthymic disorder and major depression in old age

Abstract A prospective follow‐up of 199 elderly (60 + yr) patients (65 men and 134 women) suffering from dysthymic disorder and 42 elderly (60 + yr) patients (13 men and 29 women) suffering from major depression is described. The mean duration of the follow‐up was 15.3 ± 4.3 months for dysthymic men, 15.2 ± 4.4 months for dysthymic women, 15.3 ± 4.0 months for major depressive men and 14.0 ± 4.2 months for major depressive women. Forty‐three per cent of the dysthymic men, 38% of the dysthymic women, 39% of the major depressive men and 48% of the major depressive women had a good outcome. In dysthymic men, few visiting contacts were associated with poor outcome. In dysthymic women, poor outcome was associated with many depressive symptoms, low social participation, not living alone, low self‐perceived health, intensive diurnal variation of symptoms, low interest in work and activities, low sexual interest, and hypochondrial and compulsive symptoms. In major depressive men, no variable was associated with outcome. In major depressive women, poor outcome was associated with diabetes mellitus, suicidal ideas or attempted suicide, and psychomotor agitation or psychomotor retardation.