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Dementia in affective disorder: a case-register study
L V Kessing1, E W Olsen, P B Mortensen
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|September 24, 1999
Summary
Individuals with affective disorders show a higher risk of developing dementia. This study compared dementia risk in affective disorder patients against other psychiatric groups and the general population.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Affective disorders encompass conditions like depression and bipolar disorder.
- Dementia is a progressive decline in cognitive function.
- Previous research suggests potential links between mental health and cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if patients with affective disorder have an elevated risk of dementia.
- To compare dementia risk in affective disorder patients versus other psychiatric patient groups.
- To compare dementia risk in affective disorder patients versus the general population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Danish psychiatric central register for patient identification (1970-1974).
- Included patients diagnosed with unipolar affective disorder, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, and neurosis.
- Estimated dementia diagnosis rates over 21 years of follow-up and compared them to the general population.
Main Results:
- Patients with unipolar and bipolar affective disorder exhibited a greater risk of dementia diagnosis compared to schizophrenia and neurotic patients.
- All patient groups demonstrated a higher risk of dementia diagnosis than age- and gender-matched general population samples.
Conclusions:
- Patients diagnosed with affective disorder appear to face an increased risk of developing dementia.
- Findings suggest a significant association between affective disorders and dementia development.