On becoming depressed or anxious in late life: similar vulnerability factors but different effects of stressful life events

Br J Psychiatry. 2001 Nov:179:426-31. doi: 10.1192/bjp.179.5.426.

Abstract

Background: Little research has been done on the uniqueness of risk profiles for depression and anxiety in late life.

Aims: Delineating risk factors for the decline of mental health in older persons, comparing risk profiles for developing symptoms of pure depression, pure anxiety and both anxiety and depression in a prospective design.

Method: Self-report data on depression and anxiety were collected from community-dwelling older respondents (> or = 55 years) on two occasions, 3 years apart. Data from emotionally healthy respondents (n=1810) were used to investigate the effects of long-standing vulnerability factors and stressful life events.

Results: After 3 years 9% of the subjects had scored beyond the thresholds for symptoms. Vulnerability for depression and anxiety was quite similar, but life events differed: onset of depression was predicted by death of a partner or other relatives; onset of anxiety was best predicted by having a partner who developed a major illness. No support for moderator effects between vulnerability factors and stress was found; the effects were purely additive.

Conclusions: Depression and anxiety have many risk factors in common, but specific risk factors also were found, especially in subjects developing both depression and anxiety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anxiety Disorders / etiology*
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prospective Studies