Why the study?
Does late onset of primary depressive illness predict a better course of illness compared to early onset in elderly patients?
Does late onset of primary depressive illness predict a better course of illness compared to early onset in elderly patients?
In elderly patients with primary depressive illness, late onset (after age 60) is associated with a more favorable clinical course compared to early onset.
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Late-onset depression in the elderly was associated with better course; leaves open whether onset age should inform management or trials.
Thirty-eight elderly patients with primary depressive illness (Feighner criteria) were followed up for 7-31 months. In the absence of persistent organic signs and severe physical illness, age of onset (first depressive episode after 60) but not age was significantly related to course of illness. Compared to early onset depressives, late onset depressives were more likely to remain completely well during the follow-up period and less likely to have frequent or disabling relapses.
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Martín G. Cole (1983) studied this question.
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