EARLY-LIFE EXPERIENCE IN ELDERLY WOMEN WITH A HISTORY OF DEPRESSION -A PILOT-STUDY USING THE BRIEF PARENTING INTERVIEW

Objective: The relationship between early adverse experience and psych ological illness has been studied in younger adults, but not in the el derly. This study investigated early adverse experience in elderly wom en with a history of severe depression by using a semi-structured inte rview. Method: Women admitted with a history of severe depression were identified and interviewed using the Brief Parenting Interview (BPI)( n=14). Results: The majority of elderly women (71%) with a history of severe depression had suffered significant childhood trauma, Eight (57 %) women reported parental loss, six (49%) reported tension or discord in the family home and one woman reported severe child sexual abuse. The majority of the women (87%) did not find the questionnaire distres sing and all found it acceptable. Conclusions: Considering the high pr evalence of childhood trauma in this group and the problems treating s evere depressive illness in the elderly, this area deserves further st udy. The BPI is well tolerated in elderly women with a history of depr ession.