DEPRESSION IN OLD-AGE - A RECONSIDERATION OF CEREBRAL DISEASE IN RELATION TO OUTCOME

In a prospective study, 32 patients with depressed mood and cerebral p athology were compared over one year with 66 depressed patients who we re cerebrally intact. The hypothesis that the former would have a poor er outcome for depression was not confirmed, although the group with c erebral pathology had a significantly higher than expected death rate. Prognostic factors were identified only for the cerebrally intact gro up. Those who had major depression were more likely than those with mi nor depression to be given physical treatments, irrespective of which group they belonged to.