The development of depressive symptoms in elderly following onset of severe physical illness

This study followed a group of elderly patients (ill group) with recent onset of life-threatening or severely debilitating illness to determine development of depressive symptoms. Age- and sex-matched control patients were included for comparison. Depressive symptoms increased significantly in the group of ill male patients when compared with controls. Depressive symptoms did not show an increase in the group of ill female patients. Other variables also predicted increased depression: (1) an initial placement in nursing home, (2) a prior history of depression or higher initial level of depressive symptoms, (3) the presence of larger numbers of additional medical illnesses, and (4) following the occurrence of stressful life events. The increase in depression in the male test group was still present and significant when controlling for these additional four factors.