Depressive symptoms in an 80-year-old population in relation to medical, psychologic, and sociologic factors

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Abstract
Depressive symptoms were found in 19% of an 80-year population, more frequently among women (24%) than among men (9%) (p < 0.05). The group with depressive symptoms used hypnotics (p < 0.001), sedatives (p < 0.05), and laxatives (p < 0.001) more often than the non-depressed group. There were no differences in drug use for digitalis, diuretics, other heart medicines, or vitamins/herbal pills. Persons with depressive symptoms differed (showed more symptoms) from non-depressed in the following: nervousness (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.05), sleep (p < 0.001), difficulty in relaxing (p < 0.001), exhaustion (p < 0.05), restlessness (p < 0.001), obstipation (p < 0.05), backache (p < 0.05), and loss of weight (p < 0.05). The overall health of persons with depressive symptoms differed in a negative manner from that of the others both according to themselves (p < 0.01) and according to the investigating physician (p < 0.01). Persons with depressive symptoms showed less life satisfaction as defined by Mood (p < 0.001), Zest (p < 0.001), and Congruency (p < 0.05). There was no association between depressive symptoms and reduced cognition. Neuroticism was more prevalent in persons with depressive symptoms than in others (p < 0.001). Feelings of loneliness were more pronounced in those with depressive symptoms (p < 0.01), whereas the marital status did not differ. During 4 years there was no significant difference in survival between persons with depressive symptoms and those without; the figures were 76% and 73%, respectively.