Fifty-five elderly depressed in-patients were followed up for 24 to 63 months, mean 48 months. Thirty-eight cases remained well more than 60% of the follow-up period and seventeen cases remained more or less chronically ill. These results are comparable with follow-up studies of elderly depressed in-patients. It is suggested that treatment compliance, absence of physical disability, long term follow-up and maintenance anti-depressant therapy in many cases are associated with favorable outcome.
References
1.
KayD.. Affective disorders in the senium: their association with organic cerebral degeneration.J Ment Sci1955; 101: 302–316.
2.
GordonW.F.Elderly depressives: treatment and follow-up.Can J Psychiatry1981; 26: 110–113.
3.
MurphyE.The prognosis of depression in old age.Br J Psychiatry1983; 142: 111–119.
4.
ColeM.G.Age, age of onset and course of primary depressive illness in the elderly.Can J Psychiatry1983; 28: 102–104.
5.
PostF.The significance of affective symptoms in old age. Mandsley Monographs 10, Oxford University Press, 1962.
6.
PostF.The management and nature of depressive illness in late life: a follow-through study.Br J Psychiatry1972; 121: 393–404.
7.
PostF.Affective illnesses in health care of the elderly. Edited by ArieT.. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press1981.
8.
FeighnerJ.P.. Diagnostic criteria for use in psychiatric research.Arch Gen Psychiatry1972; 26: 57–63.
9.
BergmannK.. A follow-up study of randomly selected community residents to assess the effects of chronic brain syndrome and cerebrovascular disease.Proc V World-Congr Psychiatry1971; 2: 56–59.
10.
ColeM.G.Minor organic signs. Letter to the Editor.Can J Psychiatry1979; 24: 378–380.
