@article{ref1,
title="Prognosis of depression in the elderly. A comparison with younger patients",
journal="British journal of psychiatry",
year="1993",
author="Brodaty, Henry and Harris, L. and Peters, K. and Wilhelm, K. and Hickie, I. and Boyce, P. and Mitchell, Paul and Parker, G. and Eyers, K.",
volume="163",
number="",
pages="589-596",
abstract="The prognosis of depression in the elderly was investigated in a mixed-age sample of 242 consecutive referrals, with DSM-III defined unipolar major depressive episode, to a specialist unit for mood disorders. Subjects were followed up at about 1 and 3.8 years. There was no significant difference in outcome between younger (under 40 years), middle aged (40-59 years) and older (60 years or more) depressed patients. For the 61 elderly subjects with depression, prognosis improved with time, with 25% having a lasting recovery at the first and 41% at the second follow-up. Early onset, recurrence, and poor premorbid personality were associated with a worse prognosis. Three (5%) elderly depressives had committed suicide and seven (11%) had died from natural causes by the second follow-up. Despite some methodological limitations, our findings suggest a more optimistic outlook and the need for longer, more assertive treatment for elderly, depressed patients.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1250",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}