Key result
Age of onset of depressive illness in elderly psychiatric inpatients was significantly associated only with rates of family history, whereas age itself showed no correlation with clinical features.
Observational (n=55)
Age of onset, rather than chronological age, may be an important factor in distinguishing different types of depressive illness in the elderly.
May distinguish depressive subtypes by onset age in elderly inpatients; leaves open validation and treatment implications.
In an attempt to examine the effects of age and age of onset on depressive illness, the records of 55 psychiatric inpatients with an average age of 77 years were reviewed. There was no correlation between age and presence of psychosis, severe cognitive impairment, positive family history, length of hospitalization, treatment, or treatment response. When the cases were grouped on the basis of age of first admission, only the rates of family history were significantly different. Although age per se may have little influence on the nature of depressive illness, age of onset may be important in distinguishing different types of depressive illness in the elderly, which suggests implications for treatment and prognosis.
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Herrmann et al. (1989) conducted an observational in Depressive illness (n=55). Age and age of onset was evaluated on Presence of psychosis, severe cognitive impairment, positive family history, length of hospitalization, treatment, or treatment response. Age of onset of depressive illness in elderly psychiatric inpatients was significantly associated only with rates of family history, whereas age itself showed no correlation with clinical features.
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