PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF DEPRESSION IN A POPULATION OF NONAGENARIANS

Background. Clinicians see many more nonagenarian patients now and the re is a need for epidemiological data relating to this group. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of depressive S ymptoms and syndromes in this age group. Method. The DSM-IV and the IC D-10 criteria for depression were used and correlated with physical he alth, disability in daily life, gender, use of drugs, social circumsta nces and cognitive dysfunction. Data were derived from 329 persons age d 90 and over, registered in a parish of Stockholm, who had been exten sively examined by physicians and nurses. Results/Conclusions. The pre valence of Major Depressive Episode as defined in DSM-IV was 7.9%; and of mild, moderate and severe Depressive Episode (combined); as define d in ICD-10 9.1%. No gender difference was found. Disability in daily life and the use of psychotropic drugs were found to correlate with de pressive symptoms and syndromes.