Long-term follow-up of elderly depressed patients showed that 38 of 55 (69%) remained well for >60% of a mean 48-month period, while 17 (31%) remained chronically ill.
Cohort (n=55)
Elderly depressed patients can have a favorable long-term outcome, which may be associated with treatment compliance and maintenance antidepressant therapy.
Fifty-five elderly depressed in-patients were followed up for 24 to 63 months, mean 48 months. Thirty-eight cases remained well more than 60% of the follow-up period and seventeen cases remained more or less chronically ill. These results are comparable with follow-up studies of elderly depressed in-patients. It is suggested that treatment compliance, absence of physical disability, long term follow-up and maintenance anti-depressant therapy in many cases are associated with favorable outcome.
Martín G. Cole (Mon,) conducted a cohort in Elderly depression (n=55). Maintenance anti-depressant therapy and follow-up was evaluated on Remaining well for >60% of the follow-up period. Long-term follow-up of elderly depressed patients showed that 38 of 55 (69%) remained well for >60% of a mean 48-month period, while 17 (31%) remained chronically ill.