Depressive symptoms predicting six-year mortality in depressed elderly finns

The specific symptoms of depression associated with increased mortality in the depressed elderly are poorly known. The aim of this paper is to analyse the individual depressive symptoms measured by the Zung Self Rated Depress ion Scale (ZSDS) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) in ass ociation with mortality among depressed elderly subjects. The population co nsisted of 169 depressed (DSM-III criteria) aged (65+ years) persons from a Finnish epidemiological research project. The follow-up for deaths continu ed for about 6 years. When age, sex, smoking, physical health and functiona l abilities were taken into account, dissatisfaction, weight loss and gastr ointestinal symptoms (anorexia and constipation) predicted mortality togeth er with high age and poor physical health. Weight loss was related to an in creased risk of death, specifically in the depressed. Dissatisfaction and g astrointestinal symptoms were more general markers of increased mortality. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley Be Sons, Ltd.