Paul R. Duberstein Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, and the lead
researcher stated “We assume that because depression has not developed
for people with these personality traits by the age of 70 that it
won’t develop.” He went on to state that: “But even in older
adulthood, these traits confer risk. Presumably something about aging
helps take down the facade or destroys the protective sheath that has
kept them from significant depression.”
Additional results from this unique study are published in the May
edition of the journal Psychological Medicine. The study found that
women were at greater risk than men and that individuals having a
working-class background were also at increased risk for depression
particularly prior to the age of 80. The study will help to
understand some of the personality characteristics associated with
late life depression. Dr. Duberstein, who is director of the
Laboratory of Personality and Development at the Medical Center
stated: “The findings suggest that long-standing personality traits
can predict onset of depression into older adulthood.”
Researchers in this study considered data from a multidisciplinary
study of 70-year-old residents from Goteborg, Sweden which began in
1971 in order to have a better understanding of aging, and some of the
age-related disorders that develop among this age group.
Because most individuals in Sweden receive public healthcare, the
study had access to medical records going back several decades. Data
collection also included physical, mental health and social
assessment. Individuals were then examined periodically over a 15
year period of time, at the ages of 75, 79, 81, 83 and 85.
Individuals with dementia and some other psychiatric disorders were
eliminated from the study. Overall, a total of 275 records were
analyzed, finding 59 cases of first lifetime episodes of depression
after the age of 70. Authors of the study stated: “Although we are
aware of no research on how people who are highly distress prone
managed to stave off clinically significant depression, protective
factors might play a role.” They went on to conclude that: “Candidate
protective factors include close personal relationships, rewarding
occupations or meaningful hobbies, physical vigor and vitality,
economic independence, and spiritual well-being. Processes related to
aging might inexorably erode some of these protective factors.”
The researchers obviously recommend continuing the study between age,
personality and first-time episodes of depression. They stated: “This
is a particularly important issue for older men, given their high
suicide rate in many Western countries, and the observation that they
often take their lives in the midst of a first lifetime episode of
depression.”
Adapted from an article at ScienceDaily (April 14, 2008) Personality
Study Shows Risk of First Depression Episode Late in Life
University of
Rochester Medical Center (2008, April 14). Personality Study Shows
Risk Of First Depression Episode Late In Life.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved
April 17, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com
/releases/2008/04/080411124607.htm
Additional Information and
webpage by Paul Susic MA Licensed
Psychologist Ph.D. Candidate
A recent study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found
that certain personality characteristics were associated with a higher
risk of having a first incidence of depression in later life. As
reported in an April 14, 2008 article at ScienceDaily, people over the
age of 70 whose personality characteristics make them more vulnerable
to having feelings of distress, insecurity, anxiety and worry, are far
more likely to experience a first episode of clinical depression in
their later years than those who do not exhibit these same
characteristics.