Medical illness burden, trait neuroticism, and depression in older primary care patients

Am J Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;155(7):969-71. doi: 10.1176/ajp.155.7.969.

Abstract

Objective: The authors tested the hypotheses that medical illness burden is independently associated with depression and that this association is moderated by neuroticism.

Method: Multiple regression techniques were used to determine the independent associations of medical burden and neuroticism with depression in a group of 196 subjects, 60 years of age and older, recruited from primary care settings.

Results: Medical burden and neuroticism were independently associated with major depression, depressive symptoms, and psychiatric dysfunction.

Conclusions: These findings support models in which medical disorders may contribute directly to depression. At the same time, the role of neuroticism in later-life depression warrants further study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurotic Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Neurotic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Personality / classification*
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Regression Analysis