This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rohrbaugh, R. M. Articles by Giller, E. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Rohrbaugh, R. M. Articles by Giller, E. L., Jr Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Lifetime Course of Chronic Depression in Older Men

Departments of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven

Diane E. Sholomskas

Departments of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven

Earl L. Giller, Jr

University of Connecticut, Farmington

The lifetime course of illness in older outpatient men who remained symptomatic despite adequate pharmacologic treat ment for depression was examined. A bimodal distribution of age of onset of first major depression was found, with 75% having onset before age 35 years and 25% having onset after age 50 years. At all ages, episodes of chronic depression developed after episodes of major depression and appeared to be partially resolved major depression. In 88% of patients, anxiety disorders developed before age 35 years, preceded onset of other disorders, and continued throughout the patient's lifetime. Seventy percent developed alcoholism and 25% had a medical illness that impaired function to a signifi cant degree. The importance of obtaining a lifetime course of illness in older patients is discussed. ( J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1989;2:89-95).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?