Work

Course of late‐life depression in China is chronic and unremitting

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The world's largest aging population resides in China. Depressive disorders represent a public health problem among older adults in China; however, little is known about the course and natural outcomes with routine treatment in primary care. METHODS: We examined the one-year naturalistic course of depressive symptoms in older adult Chinese primary care patients (Hangzhou, China). FINDINGS: We found slight improvement among most of the older adults who initially presented with mild or subsyndromal depressive symptoms, but marked increase in severity in one group of initially mildly depressed older adults; a lack of improvement among all older adults with severe initial presentations. Greater physical illness burden, lower functional capacity, and lower family support were associated with greater initial depressive symptom severity and lack of improvement over time. CONCLUSION: The naturalistic course of depressive illness in older adult primary care patients in urban China is typically chronic and unremitting for those with severe symptoms and slowly improving for those with milder symptoms. Because access to specialty mental health care is limited, treatments for late-life depression need to be developed that can be effectively and feasibly implemented in Chinese primary care practices.

Source: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1002/gps.4151

Authors: Kimberly A. Van Orden, Shulin Chen, Alisa O'Riley, Yeates Conwell

Institutions: University of Rochester Medicine, Zhejiang University

Language: English

Topic: Mental Health Treatment and Access

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green