Risk of Depression Could Increase with Age, Study Says

Some previous evidence shows major depressive disorder (MDD) being more prevalent in those of older age, however such evidence is scarce due to lack of extensive studies including a wide range of ages. In a recent study published in The Lancet, a group of researchers set out to address this discrepancy. In their longitudinal cohort study, baseline and 2-year follow-up data from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons (NESDO) and Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) on patients between 18-88 years of age with major depressive disorder (MDD) was assessed. The four indicators used to assess the 2-year course of MDD were presence of MDD or dysthymia after 2 years, chronic depressive symptoms (characterized by symptoms present for at least 80% of the 2-year period), changes in severity of depression, and time to remission of symptoms.  To run away from the feeling of depression, people generally start abusing drugs, sometimes, it can  be uncontrol-able. For such individuals drug rehab in austin offers programs that will help them get out of this mental state and lead a normal and happy life.

From the data obtained from 1,042 patients, all four indicators showed that 2-year MDD symptoms were significantly worse in those of older age. Compared to the reference group of ages 18-29, those over the age of 70 were found to have the worst outcomes. These results remained consistent after accounting for various clinical, social, and health factors that differ among age groups. Overall, these findings support the notion that older age is a risk factor for worsening of MDD and bring into question what the root of this phenomena could be.  

Source: The Lancet