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Association of hypotension with positive and negative affect and depressive symptoms in the elderly
1Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia. Anthony.Jorm@anu.edu.au
Background:
Previous research associating hypotension with depression has produced inconsistent results. A possible reasons is that depressive symptom scales reflect both high negative affect and low positive affect.
Aims:
To examine the association of hypotension with depressive symptoms, negative affect and positive affect.
Method:
Community survey of 340 elderly persons aged 77-99 years.
Results:
Diastolic hypotension had a weak association with depression, no association with negative affect and a strong inverse association with positive affect. Systolic hypertension was associated with positive affect. Use of antihypertensive medication was independently associated with lower positive affect.
Conclusions:
Diastolic hypotension shows a specific association with low positive affect. This association may explain the weak and inconsistent results of earlier studies relating hypotension to depression.
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