Y. Forsell, Predictors for Depression, Anxiety and psychotic symptoms in a very elderly population: data from a 3-year follow-up study, SOC PSY PSY, 35(6), 2000, pp. 259-263
Background: This study examined the predictors for Depression, Anxiety and
psychotic symptoms in a population of very elderly persons. Methods: A tota
l of 894 persons with a mean age of 84.5 years were examined twice using a
3-year interval. Physicians performed a structured psychiatric interview an
d persons with a current disorder or symptom were excluded. Results: Person
s who had a history of psychosis, were affected with Dementia and had an in
sufficient social network had an increased frequency of psychotic symptoms.
A history of Depression/Anxiety increased the frequency of having Anxiety
and Depression. An insufficient social network was associated with Anxiety.
Conclusions: In this study Anxiety, Depression and psychotic symptoms in t
he very elderly seem to be linked to a lifetime psychological vulnerability
, since all were related to a previous psychiatric history. Additionally, p
sychotic symptoms seemed to emerge due to structural brain damage, as seen
in Dementia.