Predictors of Major Depressive Disorder in Older People.

Susana Sousa,Laetitia Teixeira,Constança Paúl

doi:10.3390/ijerph182211894

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders in older people. There are several biological, psychological, and social factors associated with this disorder. This study aimed to describe the depressive state to identify the associated factors and potential predictors of MDD in a population of community-dwelling older people with probable MDD. The sample consisted of 378 participants with probable dementia, with 47.3% of them presenting MDD. The factors that were found to be associated with MDD were sex, living status, mobility, and nutritional status. Knowing the factors that can predict a condition such as MDD is extremely important, both for prevention and for the customization of interventions.

Highlights

Mental health disorders are associated with reduced functional capacity and quality of life in the elderly
The study population consisted of Portuguese nationals, and the following were the study’s participant inclusion criteria: (i) user of a primary healthcare unit integrated in a Health Centre Grouping (ACES) of the area covered by ARSN and (ii) aged 65 years or more
Major depressive disorder (MDD) in older people is seldom recrecognised [29], and depressive symptoms are often attributed to physiological causes, or ognised [29], and depressive symptoms are often attributed to physiological causes, or regarded as being associated with other comorbidities

Summary

Introduction

Mental health disorders are associated with reduced functional capacity and quality of life in the elderly. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health disorders in older people [1,2]. The estimated number of people with MDD worldwide in 2015 was 300 million [3]. MDD is a clinical condition characterised by a feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities that were once perceived as enjoyable. To be considered a disorder, rather than just a normal reaction to life events, these symptoms must persist for at least 2 weeks and must be generally accompanied by changes in appetite and sleep patterns, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, indecision, suicidal thoughts, or feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, and despair [5]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion