Who becomes depressed? The Islington community study of older people

Depression in older people is common and debilitating and associated with physical ill health. This is the first study of risk factors for depression in a representative sample of older people selected for high vulnerability because of physical ill health.

Subjects identified in an epidemiological community survey of morbidity in people > or =65 years old, who had activity limitation (ADL) but no psychiatric morbidity were reinterviewed after 3 years.

79 (90%) of subjects were interviewed. Ten percent developed pervasive depression and 24% screened positive for depression. This latter group were more likely to consult doctors than others with similar levels of disability (P<0.005) mainly because of an acute physical illness. Frequent pain was associated with the development of depression (P<0.02).

Older people who are ADL limited are known to be at high risk for depression. For the majority who do not become depressed, chronicity of illness does not lead to depression. Those who become depressed are most likely to be those with an acute illness and those who are in pain. They will usually increase their consultation rate with doctors but will not complain of depression. They may be undertreated for both pain and depression. Further studies are needed to confirm other risk factors.