Epidemiological and clinical studies of depression in old age
Description:
A longitudinal epidemiological and clinical study of depression in old age is an ongoing study, which was begun in 1984. The aims of this study project are to describe the prevalence, symptoms, signs, risk factors and prognosis of depression in old age. Depression as a risk factor of somatic diseases will be described as well.
In this study project a longitudinal study consisting of two cohort studies has been performed in the town of Ähtäri in west-central Finland. Data on depression and depressive symptoms have been collected along with other population studies made by the study groups of professor Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä, and these materials are also used in testing the hypotheses of this study project.
The first cohort study in Ähtäri was performed in 1984-1985 , and the second one in 1989-1990. The persons born in 1923 or earlier and during these phases of the study living in Ähtäri were asked to participate. Data on social and socio-economic situation, health behaviour, health, functional abilities, social participation and social support were collected during both phases, and the occurrence of depression was determined according to the DSM-III criteria. During the later study, data on marital satisfaction and life events were also collected. These data have been linked with death statistics.
About 60 English scientific articles in international series and about 20 Finnish scientific articles have been published. The topics include prevalence, symptoms, signs, risk factors and clinical prognosis of depression in old age and mortality of depressed older persons. In the future, relationships between depression and the risk of mortality from coronary heart disease ; relationships between depression and the risk of mortality from coronary heart disease in coronary patients; the risk of physical disability in the depressed; and the risk of cognitive disability in the depressed will be analysed.
Depressive symptoms were measured in the longitudinal study consisting of two cohorts performed in the municipality of Lieto, south-western Finland. The data collected during the first phase at the beginning of the 90`s and those collected during the later phase of this study, in the end of the 90`s will be used in testing associations between stronger depressive symptoms and certain laboratory data. Associations between strong depressive symptoms and coronary heart disease and those between strong depressive symptoms and cognitive functioning will be described.
Principal investigators:
Prof. Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä, Department of General Practice, University of Turku
Docent Kimmo Pahkala, Provincial State Office of Western Finland, Unit in Vaasa
Docent Raimo Isoaho, Department of General Practice, University of Turku
Professor Pekka Laippala, Institute of Health Science, University of Tampere
Senior investigators:
Dr. Tuula Pulska, Oulu Diaconic Institute
Young investigators:
.PhD students : Anna-Maija Päivärinta