Trajectories of depression and their relationship with health status and social service use

Abstract

This longitudinal study was conducted between 1994 and 2004 in a cohort of Southern Taiwan communityliving elderly residents. The study aims to explore the trajectories of depression and how these patterns differed between respondents who survived and those who died during data collection phases; this study also investigated how health status change and health/social service use predicted the different trajectories of depression. Eight hundred and ten participants had completed all six waves of the survey or were followed-up at each wave until death in the prospective study in Kaohsiung City. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule (SPES). Changes in levels of depression during the ageing process were identified. Different trajectories clearly reflected heterogeneity within depression and the association with mortality. The study highlighted that diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease and disability, whether at baseline or as new occurrences, were predictors of health decline. High uses of health/social services were also predictive of increased depression. These findings identified depression as a highly dynamic process, characterized by different trajectories of depression between states of no, mild and severe depression. Greater awareness of these various trajectories should potentially improve the prevention and/or management strategies of depression. Taiwan community-living elderly residents. The study aims to explore the trajectories of depression and how these patterns differed between respondents who survived and those who died during data collection phases; this study also investigated how health status change and health/social service use predicted the different trajectories of depression. Eight hundred and ten participants had completed all six waves of the survey or were followed-up at each wave until death in the prospective study in Kaohsiung City. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule (SPES). Changes in levels of depression during the ageing process were identified. Different trajectories clearly reflected heterogeneity within depression and the association with mortality. The study highlighted that diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease and disability, whether at baseline or as new occurrences, were predictors of health decline. High uses of health/social services were also predictive of increased depression. These findings identified depression as a highly dynamic process, characterized by different trajectories of depression between states of no, mild and severe depression. Greater awareness of these various trajectories should potentially improve the prevention and/or management strategies of depression.

Memory Deficits Precede Increases in Depressive Symptoms in Later Adulthood

“…In contrast with the current depressive symptoms outcome, accumulating evidence from other studies shows that for most adults, depressive symptoms are relatively stable following middle age (Montagnier et al, 2014;Musliner, Munk-Olsen, Eaton, & Zandi, 2016). We note that individual differences in age-related trajectories of depressive symptoms are largely attributed to the presence/absence of chronic disease and physical impairment (Chen et al, 2011;Musliner et al, 2016). SHARE data includes a single measure to track the number of chronic diseases and multiple measures of functional capacity (e.g., grip strength, difficulties in daily activities).…”

Self-rated quality of life of city-dwelling elderly people benefitting from social help: results of a cross-sectional study

“…Studies conducted in Taiwan in 1994 – 2004 showed that people aged 65 or older are more likely to suffer from depression than younger ones. In 1994 the percentage of people in this age group was 16.3%, but 10 years later it was 29.9% [49]. Moreover, in people with chronic diseases, depression symptoms are observed more frequently.…”

Group‐based trajectories of depressive symptoms and the predictors in the older population

“…Most existing studies of depression among the older people are cross-sectional. Although a few longitudinal studies examined the change of depressive symptoms for older adults over time (Taylor & Lynch, 2004;Yang & George, 2005;Koenig et al, 2006;Andreescu et al, 2008;Cui et al, 2008;Taylor et al, 2008;Chiao et al, 2009, Hsu, 2009Capioppo et al, 2010;Chen et al, 2010;Tomey et al, 2010;Brault et al, 2011;Franz et al, 2011;Kamen et al, 2011;Rapp et al, 2011), most studies were conducted in Western developed nations. In addition, the heterogeneity of depressive symptoms over time is little explored in the existing literature.…”