Depression in holocaust survivors: Profile and treatment outcome in a geriatric day hospital program.

The profile of depressive symptoms and the outcome of treatment in Holocaus t Survivors (HS) versus non-Holocaust Survivors (NS), attending a Psychiatr ic Day Hospital Program for depression, were evaluated retrospectively usin g a clinical database. Approximately 24% of the study population were Holoc aust Survivors (HS). The HS group was more likely to receive a diagnosis of major depressive disorder or episode as one of their diagnoses. The HS gro up, in particular those survivors who had been in ghettos or in concentrati on camps, were more likely to be given a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Both groups showed improvement from baseline in their ratings of depression on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Geriatric De pression Scale at the time of discharge (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of their ratings of de pression either at admission, at discharge or in their degree of improvemen t. Likewise, there was no significant difference between the groups in the profile of their depression, as per the sub-scales of the HDRS, with the ex ception that the HS group displayed more 'insight' than the NS group (p = 0 .002), The NS group scored higher on the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale compa red to the WS group (119.1 versus 125.4, p < 0.001), even when level of edu cation was covaried; however, language may be an important confound. In con clusion, there was no significant difference in the profile or outcome of d epression between groups. However, the HS group was more likely to receive a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, displayed more 'insight', an d appear to differ in their cognitive profile. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wile y & Sons, Ltd.