Five Personality Traits in Late-onset Depression in Hong Kong

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Late-onset depression (LOD) is a significant concern in older populations.
• Understanding the psychological factors contributing to LOD is crucial for effective intervention.
• Personality traits may play a role in the development and severity of depression in elderly individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the five personality traits and late-onset depression (LOD) in Hong Kong's elderly population.
• To identify specific personality characteristics linked to the presence and severity of LOD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 40 older adults with LOD and 54 non-depressed controls.
• Utilized the NEO Five Factor Inventory for personality assessment.
• Assessed depression severity (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination), functional status (Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), and physical illness burden (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale).

Main Results:

• The LOD group exhibited higher neuroticism scores and lower scores in extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness compared to controls.
• Neuroticism was identified as the sole significant predictor of LOD (OR = 2.325, p = 0.001).
• Higher neuroticism scores were also significantly associated with greater depression severity (β = 0.581, p = 0.003).

Conclusions:

• The personality trait of neuroticism is strongly associated with both the presence and severity of late-onset depression in older adults.
• Routine assessment of personality traits, particularly neuroticism, should be considered in the clinical evaluation of elderly individuals presenting with depression.