TY - JOUR
T1 - Is depression in old age fatal only when people feel lonely?
AU - Stek, Max L.
AU - Vinkers, David J.
AU - Gussekloo, Jacobijn
AU - Beekman, Aartjan T.F.
AU - Van Der Mast, Roos C.
AU - Westendorp, Rudi G.J.
PY - 2005/1
Y1 - 2005/1
N2 - Objective: The impact of depression and perceived loneliness in the oldest old is largely unknown. The authors studied the relationship between the presence of depressive symptoms and all-cause mortality in old age, especially the potential distorting effect of perceived loneliness. Method: Within a prospective population-based study of 85-year-olds, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and the Loneliness Scale were annually applied in all 476 participants with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 18 points or more. Results: Depression was present in 23% and associated with marital state, institutionalization, and perceived loneliness. When depression and perceived loneliness were assessed during follow-up, neither depression nor perceived loneliness had a significant effect on mortality. However, those who suffered from both depression and feelings of loneliness had a 2.1 times higher mortality risk. Conclusions: The data suggest that the increased mortality risk attributable to depression in the presence of perceived loneliness may result from motivational depletion.
AB - Objective: The impact of depression and perceived loneliness in the oldest old is largely unknown. The authors studied the relationship between the presence of depressive symptoms and all-cause mortality in old age, especially the potential distorting effect of perceived loneliness. Method: Within a prospective population-based study of 85-year-olds, the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale and the Loneliness Scale were annually applied in all 476 participants with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 18 points or more. Results: Depression was present in 23% and associated with marital state, institutionalization, and perceived loneliness. When depression and perceived loneliness were assessed during follow-up, neither depression nor perceived loneliness had a significant effect on mortality. However, those who suffered from both depression and feelings of loneliness had a 2.1 times higher mortality risk. Conclusions: The data suggest that the increased mortality risk attributable to depression in the presence of perceived loneliness may result from motivational depletion.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=11844288906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.1.178
DO - https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.1.178
M3 - Article
C2 - 15625218
SN - 0002-953X
VL - 162
SP - 178
EP - 180
JO - American Journal of Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 1
ER -