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Predictors for Depression, Anxiety and psychotic symptoms in a very elderly population: data from a 3-year follow-up
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy and Elderly Care, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Yvonne.Forsell@neurotec.ki.se
Background:
This study examined the predictors for Depression, Anxiety and psychotic symptoms in a population of very elderly persons.
Methods:
A total of 894 persons with a mean age of 84.5 years were examined twice using a 3-year interval. Physicians performed a structured psychiatric interview and persons with a current disorder or symptom were excluded.
Results:
Persons who had a history of psychosis, were affected with Dementia and had an insufficient social network had an increased frequency of psychotic symptoms. A history of Depression/Anxiety increased the frequency of having Anxiety and Depression. An insufficient social network was associated with Anxiety.
Conclusions:
In this study Anxiety, Depression and psychotic symptoms in the very elderly seem to be linked to a lifetime psychological vulnerability, since all were related to a previous psychiatric history. Additionally, psychotic symptoms seemed to emerge due to structural brain damage, as seen in Dementia.