OUTCOME OF DEPRESSION IN DEMENTED AND NONDEMENTED ELDERLY - OBSERVATIONS FROM A 3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP IN A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY

In the Kungsholmen project, a longitudinal study of a total population , samples of non-demented and demented elderly persons with a depressi ve disorder were followed over 3 years. Of 668 persons who received a full medical examination, 62 were found to have a depressive disorder. Of these, 28 were demented and 34 non-demented. Two-thirds of the 62 had not been previously recognized as having a depressive disorder. Th ere was no difference in this regard between the demented and non-deme nted samples. After 3 years, only two out of 20 non-demented cases had recovered from their depressive disorder. This is in contrast to the demented cases, where only one of 11 were still depressed. These resul ts indicate the need for greater attention to the recognition and mana gement of depressive disorders in the elderly.