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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Matthew Prina
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© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons LtdAims: To study the temporal dynamics of depression symptom episodes in old-age and the related influence of risk factors. Methods: Data from 41 362 old adults (54.61% women; mean age = 75.30, SD = 6.20) from the Ageing Trajectories of Health – Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project were used. Depressive symptoms were followed over an 18-year period. A multi-state model, comprising three statuses (no depression, new clinically relevant episode of symptoms and episode persistence), was fitted. Multinomial regression was used to study the role of risk factors in status transition. Results: Almost 85% of participants showed no depression, but prevalence became lower over time (B = −0.25, P < 0.001). New episode point prevalence was over 5.30% with a significant probability of moving to persistence status (transition probability = 0.27). Episode persistence became evident in 9.86% of episode status transitions, with increasing rate over time (B = 0.54, P < 0.01). Loneliness was proven to be the strongest predictor of episode emergence (OR = 17.76) and persistence (OR = 5.93). Conclusions: The course of depression tends to become chronic and unremitting in old-age. This study may help to plan interventions to tackle symptom escalation and risk factor influence.
Author(s): de la Torre-Luque A, de la Fuente J, Sanchez-Niubo A, Caballero FF, Prina M, Muniz-Terrera G, Haro JM, Ayuso-Mateos JL
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Year: 2019
Volume: 140
Issue: 6
Pages: 541-551
Print publication date: 01/12/2019
Online publication date: 30/09/2019
Acceptance date: 23/09/2019
ISSN (print): 0001-690X
ISSN (electronic): 1600-0447
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13107
DOI: 10.1111/acps.13107
PubMed id: 31566713
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