Phenomenology of depression in older compared with younger adults: meta-analysis Full Text
The British Journal of Psychiatry, 04/10/2012
Evidence Based Medicine
Clinical Article
Hegeman JM et al. – The phenomenology of late–life depression differs only in part from that of early–life depression. Major depression in older people may have a more somatic presentation, whereas feelings of guilt and loss of sexual function may be more prevalent in younger people.
Methods- A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO for all studies examining the relation between age and phenomenology of major depression according to RDC, DSM and ICD criteria.
- Studies were included only if the age groups were compared at the single-item level using the 17-, 21- or 24-item versions of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; a meta-analysis was done for each item of the 17-item scale.
- Eleven papers met the inclusion criteria.
- Older depressed adults, compared with younger depressed adults, demonstrated more agitation, hypochondriasis and general as well as gastrointestinal somatic symptoms, but less guilt and loss of sexual interest.
