Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T17:42:09.526Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Some Thoughts on the Prevalence and Etiology of Depressive Conditions in the Elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

P. Cappeliez
P. Cappeliez
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article reevaluates the issue of the prevalence of depressive conditions (clinical depressions and depressive symptoms) in the elderly with the help of recent epidemiological data. It then underlines several key aspects of the etiology of depressive conditions of older adults. The perspective is a psychosocial analysis, which considers the etiological contributions of three types of factors: the socio-demographic status of the person, life events, and the resources of the person. The article concludes by delineating the implications for research in this area.

Keywords

depressionetiologyprevalenceaged
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 7 , Issue 4: Francophone Research in Gerontology in Canada , Winter/hiver 1988 , pp. 431 - 440
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

RÉFÉRENCES

Akiskal, H.S. (1985). Interaction of biologic and psychologic factors in the origin of depressive disorders. Ada Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 71 (Suppl. 319), 131–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Akiskal, H.S., McKinney, W.T. (1975). Overview of recent research in depression: Integration often conceptual models into a comprehensive clinical frame. Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 285–305.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alloway, R., & Bebbington, P. (1987). The buffer theory of social support. A review of the literature. Psychological Medicine, 17, 91–108.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Amenson, C.S., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (1981). An investigation into the observed sex difference in prevalence of unipolar depression. Journal ofAbnormal Psychology, 90, 1–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association. (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanisms in human agency. American Psychologist, 37, 122–147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, G.E., & Chappell, N.L. (1982). Old but not depressed. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Winnipeg, Manitoba.Google ScholarPubMed
Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J.E., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Billings, A.G., & Moos, R.H. (1982). Psychosocial theory and research on depression: An integrau've framework and review. Clinical Psychology Review, 2, 213–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Billings, A.G., & Moos, R.H. (1985). Psychosocial stressors, coping, and depression. In Beckham, E.E. & Leber, W.R. (Eds.), Handbook of depression: treatment, assessment, and research, (pp. 940–974). Homewood, IL: Dorsey Press.Google Scholar
Blazer, D., Hughes, D.C., & George, L.K. (1987). The epidemiology of depression in an elderly community population. The Gerontologist, 27, 281–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blazer, D., & Williams, CD. (1980). Epidemiology of dysphoria and depression in an elderly population. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 439–444.Google Scholar
Borson, S., Barnes, R.A., Kukull, W.A., Okimoto, J.T., Veith, R.C., Inui, T.S., Carter, W., & Raskind, M.A. (1986). Symptomatic depression in elderly medical outpatients. I Prevalence, demography, and health service utilization. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 34 341–347.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brown, G.S., & Harris, T. (1978). Social origins of depression. London: Tavistock Publications.Google ScholarPubMed
Cappeliez, P. (sous presse). Des lignes directrices pour revaluation de la depression clinique. Le Comportement Humain.Google Scholar
Cohen, S., & Wills, T.A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Comstock, G.W., & Helsing, K.S. (1976). Symptoms of depression in two communities. Psychological Medicine, 6 551–563.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Copeland, J.R.M., Dewey, M.E., Wood, N., Searle, R., Davidson, I.A., & McWilliam, C. (1987). Range of mental illness among the elderly in the community. Prevalence in Liverpool using the GMS-AGECAT package. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 815–823.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Copeland, J.R.M., Kelleher, M.J., Kellett, J.M., Gourlay, A.J., Gurland, B.J., Fleiss, J.L. & Sharpe, L. (1976). A semi-structured clinical interview for the assessment of diagnosis and mental state in the elderly. The Geriatric Mental State Schedule. 1. Development and reliability. Psychological Medecine, 6, 439–449.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cutrona, C, Russell, D., & Rose, J. (1986). Social support and adaptation to stress by the elderly. Psychology and Aging, 1, 47–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Derogatis, L.R., Lipman, R.S., Rickels, K., Uhlenhuth, E.H., & Covi, L. (1973). Th e Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL): A self-report symptom inventory. Behavioral Science, 19, 1–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dohrenwend, B. (1978). Social stress and community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 6, 1–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feinson, M.C. (1985). Aging and mental health: Distinguishing myth from reality. Research on Aging, 7, 155–174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Feinson, M.C, & Thoits, P.A. (1986). The distribution of distress among elders. Journal of Gerontology, 41, 225–233.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freedman, N., Bucci, W., & Elkowitz, E. (1982). Depression in a family practice elderly-population. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, 30, 372–377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frerichs, R.R., Aneshensel, C.S., & Clark, V.A. (1981). Prevalence of depression in Los Angeles County. American Journal of Epidemiology, 113, 691–699.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gatz, M., Hurwicz, M.L., & Weicker, W. (1986, August). Are old people more depressed? Cross-sectional data on CES-D factors. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Goldberg, E.L., Van Natta, P., & Comstock, G.W. (1985). Depressive symptoms, social networks and social support of elderly women. American Journal of Epidemiology, 121, 448–456.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Good, W.R., Vlachonikolis, I., Griffiths, P., & Griffiths, R.A. (1987). The structure of depressive symptoms in the elderly. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 463–470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Griffiths, R.A., Good, W.R., Watson, N.P., O'Donnell, H.F., Fell, P.J., & Shakespeare, J.M. (1987). Depression, dementia and disability in the elderly. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 482–493.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gurland, B.J., (1976). The comparative frequency of depression in various adult age groups. Journal of Gerontology, 31, 283–292.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gurland, B.J., Copeland, J., Kuriansky, J., Kelleher, M., Sharpe, L., & Dean, L.L. (1983). The mind and mood of aging: Mental health problems of the community elderly in New York and London. New York: Haworth Press.Google Scholar
Hamilton, M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 23, 56–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henderson, A.S., Grayson, D.A., Scott, R., Wilson, J., Rickwood, D., & Kay, D.W.K. (1986). Social support, dementia and depression among the elderly living in the Hobart community. Psychological Medecine, 16, 379–390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hirschfeld, R.M.A., & Cross, C.K. (1982). Epidemiology of affective disorders -Psychosocial risk factors. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 35–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jorm, A.F. (1987). Sex and age differences in depression: A quantitative synthesis of published research. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 21, 46–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kanner, A.D., Coyne, J.C., Schaefer, C, & Lazarus, R.S. (1981). Comparisons of two modes of stress measurement: Daily hassles and uplifts versus major life events. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 4, 1–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kermis, M.D. (1986). The epidemiology of mental disorders in the elderly: A response t o the Senate/AARP Report. The Gerontologist, 26, 482–487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kessler, R.C., Price, R.H., & Wortman, C.B. (1985). Social factors in psychopathology: Stress, social support, and coping processes. Annual Review of Psychology, 36 531–572.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klerman, G.L. (1985). The scientific status of neurotic depression. Psychopathology, 18, 167–173.Google ScholarPubMed
Klerman, G.L., Lavori, P.W., Rice, J., Reich, T., Endicott, J., Andreasen, N.C., Keller, M.B., & Hirschfeld, R.M.A. (1985). Birth-cohort trends in rates of major depressive disorder among relatives of patients with affective disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 689–693.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krause, N. (1986a). Social support, stress, and well-being among older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 41, 512–519.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krause, N. (1986b). Stress and sex differences in depressive symptoms among older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 41, 727–731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Krause, N. (1987). Chronic financial strain, social support, and depressive symptoms among older adults. Psychology and Aging, 2, 185–192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewinsohn, P.M., Duncan, E.M., Stanton, A.K., & Hautzinger, M. (1986). Age at first onset for nonbipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 378–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewinsohn, P.M., Hoberman, H.M., Teri, L., & Hautzinger, M. (1985). An integrative theory of depression. In Reiss, S. & Bootzin, R.R. (Eds.). Theoretical issues in behavior therapy. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Lieberman, M.A. (1983). Social contexts of depression. In Breslau, D. & Haug, M.R. (Eds.), Depression and aging: Causes, care, and consequences (pp. 121–133). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Morgan, K., Dallosso, H.M., Arie, T., Byrne, E.J., Jones, R., & Waite, J. (1987). Mental health and psychological well-being among the old and old living at home. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 801–807.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, E. (1982). Social origins of depression in old age. Britishjoumal of Psychiatry, 141, 135–142.Google ScholarPubMed
Murrell, S.A., Himmelfarb, S., & Wright, K. (1983). Prevalence of depression and its correlates in older adults. American Journal of Epidemiology, 117, 173–185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murrell, S.A., & Norris, F.H. (1983). Resources, life events, and changes in psychological states: A prospective framework. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 473–491.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Myers, J.K., Wcissman, M.M., Tischler, G.L., Holzer, C.E., Leaf, P.J., Orvaschel, H., Anthony, J.C, Boyd, J.H., Burke, J.D., Kramer, M., & Stoltzman, R. (1984). Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities – 1980 to 1982. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 959–967.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norris, F.H., & Murrell, S.A. (1984). Protective function of resources related to life events, global stress, and depression in older adults. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 25, 424–437.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Hara, M.W., Kohout, F.J., & Wallace, R.B. (1985). Depression among the rural elderly. A study of prevalence and correlates. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 173, 582–589.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pearlin, L.I., Menaghan, E.G., Lieberman, M.A., & Mullins, J.T. (1981). The stress process. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 337–356.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Phifer, J.F., & Murrell, S.A. (1986). Etiologic factors in the onset of depressive symptoms in older adults. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 282–291.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Radloff, L. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Regier, D.A., Myers, J.K., Kramer, M., Robins, L.N., Blazer, D.G., Hough, R.L., Eaton, W.W., & Locke, B.Z. (1984). The NIMH epidemiologic catchment area program: Historical context, major objectives and study population characteristics. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 934–941.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Robins, L.N., Helzer, J.E., Weissman, M.M., Orvaschel, H., Gruenberg, E., Burke, J.D., & Regier, D.A. (1984). Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 949–958.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spitzer, R.L., Endicott, J., & Robins, E. (1978). Research diagnostic criteria (RDC) (3rd ed.). New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute.Google Scholar
Sprock, J. (1985). Classification of depression. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 26, 404–420.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoudemire, A., & Blazer, D.G., (1985). Depression in the elderly. In Beckham, E.E. & Leber, W.R. (Eds.), Handbook of depression: Treatment, assessment, and research, (pp. 556–586). Homewood, IL: Dorsey Press.Google Scholar
Weissman, M.M., & Myers, J.K. (1978). Affective disorders in an U.S. urban community: The use of the Research Diagnostic Criteria in an epidemiological survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 1304–1311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zung, W. (1965). A self-rating depression scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 12, 63–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed