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Depression in Old Age a Reconsideration of Cerebral Disease in Relation to Outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. C. Baldwin*
Affiliation:
York House, Manchester Royal Infirmary
S. M. Benbow
Affiliation:
York House, Manchester Royal Infirmary
A. Marriott
Affiliation:
York House, Manchester Royal Infirmary
B. Tomenson
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Rawnsley Building, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9BX
*
York House, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9BX

Abstract

In a prospective study, 32 patients with depressed mood and cerebral pathology were compared over one year with 66 depressed patients who were cerebrally intact. The hypothesis that the former would have a poorer outcome for depression was not confirmed, although the group with cerebral pathology had a significantly higher than expected death rate. Prognostic factors were identified only for the cerebrally intact group. Those who had major depression were more likely than those with minor depression to be given physical treatments, irrespective of which group they belonged to.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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