The Prognosis of Depression in Old Age

作者：Elaine Murphy · 发表于：The British Journal of Psychiatry · 年份：1983 · DOI：10.1192/bjp.142.2.111 · 被引用次数：621 · 研究领域：Health disparities and outcomes、Aging and Gerontology Research、Mental Health Treatment and Access

The paper describes a one year prospective study of 124 elderly depressed patients. Only one third of the group had a good outcome. Poor outcome was associated with severity of initial illness, those with depressive delusions having a particularly poor outcome. Outcome was also influenced by physical health problems and severe life events in the follow-up year. Social class differences in outcome were thought to be due to class differences in the experience of severe life events. There was no evidence that an intimate relationship protected against relapse in the face of continuing life stress.