Early-life risk factors for late-onset depression

To assess differences between women with no history of depression (No MDD), early-onset depression (EOD), and late-onset depression (LOD) on psychosocial risk factors (marital conflict and lack of social support), neuroticism, and overall self-rated health.

Diagnostic data from a community-based longitudinal study of women at mean ages 39, 42, 48, and 59 was used to create three groups of women (No MDD, EOD and LOD). These groups were then compared on psychosocial, personality, and overall health risk assessed approximately 10 years prior to diagnosis.

There were no differences between the groups on marital conflict and social support. Those with EOD scored higher than those in the LOD and No MDD groups on neuroticism. Importantly, those with LOD reported poorer health than those with No MDD 10 years prior to diagnosis.

These findings provide support for the notion that poor health and not psychosocial risk factors or neuroticism predispose otherwise healthy adults to developing depression for the first time in late-life.