@article{ref1,
title="Depression of young and elderly patients",
journal="Singapore medical journal",
year="1997",
author="Ko, S. M. and Kua, E. H. and Chow, M. H.",
volume="38",
number="10",
pages="439-441",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To compare the presentation and outcome of depression between young and elderly patients. DESIGN: The clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of 47 young patients (21 to 64 years) were compared with 58 elderly (65 years and older) patients admitted to a general hospital psychiatric ward for the treatment of depressive disorders (based on ICD-10). SUBJECTS: There was no significant difference between the sexes in each age group. The majority of the elderly were either widowed (36%) or married (53%) while 45% of the young were single and 51% married. Seventy per cent of the elderly had retired while 64% of the young were in full-time employment. Most patients lived with their families (87% young and 96% elderly). All but one elderly suffered at least one physical disorder with two-thirds having two or more physical disorders; this contrasts greatly to young patients who were physically healthier (p < 0.001). RESULTS: In clinical presentation and symptomatology, the young patients had significantly more suicide ideation (p < 0.003) and psychomotor retardation (p < 0.001) but there was no difference in suicidal attempt, delusion, hallucination or agitation. More young patients (36%) had a past psychiatric illness (often depressive disorders) than elderly patients (8%) (p < 0.001), more elderly patients (88%) were treated with antidepressants than the young patients (62%) (p < 0.002). At one year follow-up, more elderly patients (46%) recovered compared with the young patients (23%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There were some differences in the symptomatology of depression between young and elderly patients, but the prognosis was better for elderly patients.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0037-5675",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}