DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN AN 80-YEAR-OLD POPULATION IN RELATION TO MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGIC, AND SOCIOLOGIC FACTORS

Depressive symptoms were found in 19% of an 80-year population, more f requently among women (24%) than among men (9%) (p < 0.05). The group with depressive symptoms used hypnotics (p < 0.001), sedatives (p < 0. 05), and laxatives (p < 0.001) more often than the non-depressed group . There were no differences in drug use for digitalis, diuretics, othe r heart medicines, or vitamins/herbal pills. Persons with depressive s ymptoms differed (showed more symptoms) from non-depressed in the foll owing: nervousness (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.05), sleep (p < 0.001), difficulty in relaxing (p < 0.001), exhaustion (p < 0.05), restlessne ss (p < 0.001), obstipation (p < 0.05), backache (p < 0.05), and loss of weight (p < 0.05). The overall health of persons with depressive sy mptoms differed in a negative manner from that of the others both acco rding to themselves (p < 0.01) and according to the investigating phys ician (p < 0.01). Persons with depressive symptoms showed less life sa tisfaction as defined by Mood (p < 0.001), Zest (p < 0.001), and Congr uency (p < 0.05). There was no association between depressive symptoms and reduced cognition. Neuroticism was more prevalent in persons with depressive symptoms than in others (p < 0.001). Feelings of lonelines s were more pronounced in those with depressive symptoms (p < 0.01), w hereas the marital status did not differ. During 4 years there was no significant difference in survival between persons with depressive sym ptoms and those without; the figures were 76% and 73%, respectively.