Physical Limitations and Depressive Symptoms: Exploring the Nature of the Association

Abstract

Objectives Although evidence suggests that physical disability and depression may be reciprocally related, questions of causality versus spuriousness and the direction of causality remain to be confidently answered. This study considered the hypothesis of reciprocal influence; the possibility of spuriousness in relation to pain, stress, and lifetime major depression; and the possible mediating effects of pain and social stress. Methods We analyzed data from a two-wave panel study of Miami-Dade County residents (n = 1,455) that included a substantial oversampling of individuals reporting a physical disability. Results Results indicated that, although prior levels of physical limitations predicted changes in depressive symptoms, there was no evidence of the reverse association. Results also indicated that part of the association between prior physical limitations and changes in depressive symptoms was explained by intervening level of pain and, to a lesser extent, by the day-to-day experience of discrimination. Discussion Much of whatever causation may be involved in the linkage between physical limitations and depressive symptomatology flows from limitations to depression rather than in the reverse direction. Results also make clear that this linkage is not an artifact of shared associations with pain, social stress, or lifetime major depression.

Self-reported activities of daily living and performance-based functional ability: a study of congruence among the oldest old

“…Kempen et al (1999) found a significant association between changes in self-reported functioning and changes in depressive symptom although baseline of depressive symptoms was not predictive for change in self-reported functioning. Likewise, Gayman et al (2008) demonstrated that changes in depressive symptoms were not predictive for levels of physical limitations, but that prior levels of physical limitations predicted changes depressive symptoms. It may be that the problems in performing daily activities triggers depressive symptom in this sample of the oldest.…”

Impacto de un programa cuerpomente, basado en ejercicios de fisioterapia y técnicas psicológicas, en el bienestar psíquico de una población de pacientes diabéticos tipo 2

“…La coexistencia de la diabetes con estados de ansiedad y de depresión ha sido previamente registrada en la bibliografía (Tovilla-Zárate et al, 2012). La falta de desempeño social (Gonzalez et al, 2011), el predominio de sexo femenino (Fisher, Chesla, Mullan, Skaff, & Kanter, 2001), la obesidad y el riesgo cardiovascular (Khuwaja et al, 2010), la presencia de complicaciones (Gonzalez et al, 2011;Nouwen et al, 2011;Tovilla-Zárate et al, 2012), las limitaciones físicas (Gayman, Turner, & Cui, 2008) y el dolor crónico (Bair, Robinson, Katon, & Kroenke, 2003) son todos ellos factores que se han asociado en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 con malestar psicológico y que pueden haber favorecido la alta puntuación obtenida en el GHQ en el presente estudio. Una de las últimas publicaciones al respecto (Tovilla-Zárate et al, 2012) señala, además, la necesidad de abordar los síntomas psicológicos en el tratamiento de la diabetes ya que, a su vez, perjudican el control de la glucemia y favorecen la evolución de la misma.…”

Can we spot deleterious ageing in two waves of data? The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 from ages 70 to 73

“…This makes it possible in principle to address change over the whole 23-year period. Though many samples with this design remain in use in recent publications (e.g., Dolcos et al, 2012;Gayman, Turner & Cui, 2008;Gerstorf, Rocke & Lachman, 2011;Hanson et al, 2011;Kooij & Van De Voork, 2011;Lapi et al, 2009;Mather et al, 2010, Menezes et al, 2011Ramsden et al, 2011;Schelleman-Offermans, Kuntsche & Knibbe, 2011;Whitehead et al, 2011), the limitations of two waves of data for understanding change have been well documented (e.g., Rogosa, 1995;Rogosa, Brandt, & Zimoski, 1982), as have the additional complications introduced by large age ranges within samples (e.g., Sliwinski, Hoftman, & Hofer, 2010). Essentially, the limitations of two waves of data surround the fact that, with only two waves of data, it is not possible to distinguish true between-individual differences in overall level from error of measurement in the estimation of indvidual change trajectories.…”