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Depression Before and After Age 65

A Re-examination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Laura Musetti ,
Giulio Perugi ,
Adalgisa Soriani ,
Vedia M. Rossi ,
Giovanni B. Cassano  and
Hagop S. Akiskal
Laura Musetti
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Pisa
Giulio Perugi
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Pisa
Adalgisa Soriani
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Pisa
Vedia M. Rossi
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Pisa
Giovanni B. Cassano*
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Pisa
Hagop S. Akiskal
Affiliation:
University of Tennessee
*
∗Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy
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Abstract

Systematic and detailed psychopathological examination of 400 consecutive primary major depressives failed to confirm common clinical stereotypes which ascribe greater somatisation, hypochondriasis, agitation, psychotic tendencies, and chronicity to old age. Those above 65 were more likely to suffer from single episodes of depression that were often precipitated, whereas subjects whose illness began earlier were more likely to express depression as part of a recurrent unipolar or bipolar disorder, with higher rates of affective temperamental pathology and familial affective illness. The acute clinical picture was relatively uniform in older and younger depressives and, taken together with the other findings, tends to favour a spectrum model of primary mood disorders.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 3 , September 1989 , pp. 330 - 336
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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