Title
No more depression! Can we really prevent depression in later life?
RIS ID
64170
Abstract
Background: Depression in later life has been associated with numerous risk factors: life events, impoverished social network, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, high plasma homocysteine, among others. Aims: (1) to review the likely contribution of risk factors to the presence of depression in later life; (2) to determine the effectiveness of two different approaches to disease prevention: ongoing treatment with antidepressants and management of risk factors. Methods: 12-month prospective study of 21,819 adults aged 60 years or over in contact with 383 Australian general practitioners. The diagnosis of depression was based on assessment with the PHQ-9 and DSM-IV criteria. The use of antidepressants was systematically recorded at baseline, as was the social network, smoking, physical activity, financial burden, BMI, alcohol consumption and medical history for cardiovascular events. Results and discussion: To be presented at the meeting.
Publication Details
Almeida, O. P., Pfaff, J., Tyson, O., Pirkis, J., Flicker, L., Lautenschlager, N., Sim, M., Draper, B., Snowdon, J., Goldney, R., Byrne, G., stocks, n. p., Wilson, I. G. & Kerse, N. (2007). No more depression! Can we really prevent depression in later life?. In WPA International Congress 2007, 28 Nov - 2 Dec, Melbourne. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41 (Supp.2), A192.