Rates of depression in elderly volunteers with isolated systolic hypertension

✍ Scribed by Stanley Edlavitch; Barry J. Gurland; Robert Golden; Merwyn Greenlick; H. Mitchell Perry; James Schoenberger

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 488 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.930020209

✦ Synopsis

In a multicentre pilot study of the treatment of 551 elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (SHEP), the effects on behavioural dimensions were also investigated. The presence and severity of depression, dementia and disability was measured by the SHORT-CARE at baseline, annual follow up and, in a random half of subjects at bimonthly intervals. Remarkably low rates and levels of depression were noted in comparison with community norms; neither demographic characteristics, rates of dementia nor medication effects explained this finding. However, controlling for disability largely resolved the discrepancy in depression rates between SHEP and the community norms.