Depression Severity, but Not Cognitive Impairment or Frailty, is Associated with Disability in Late-Life Depression. Issue 4 (3rd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morin, Ruth T.; Insel, Philip; Bickford, David; Nelson, Craig; Mackin, R. Scott
• Is Part Of: Clinical gerontologist. Volume 43:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 411
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2020-07-03
• Subjects: Late life depression -- cognitive impairment -- frailty -- disability; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Geriatric psychiatry -- Periodicals; Older people -- Mental health services -- Periodicals; Older people -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 618.97689
• DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2019.1699882
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0731-7115

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Assess the relationship of cognitive impairment to disability, accounting for depression severity and frailty, among older adults with late-life depression (LLD). Methods: Data were analyzed from 78 community-dwelling older adults with LLD and without dementia (age M = 71.9; SD = 6.1). Cognitive functioning was assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Depression severity was measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS; cutoff ≥15). Frailty was assessed using several motor tests. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS) measured disability status. A linear regression analysis was performed to identify relationships of cognition, frailty and depression severity with disability. Results: The average number of impaired cognitive tests was 2.0 ( SD = 1.9), with 28.2% of participants showing no impaired scores. On average participants reported depression severity of 17.3 ( SD = 3.6), and disability total score of 15.1 ( SD = 6.9). The regression model accounted for 25.1% of the variance in disability, with only depression severity significantly predicting disability status. Burden of cognitive impairment and frailty were not predictive of disability in this sample. Conclusions: In this sample, only depression severity was associated with increased disability. Clinical Implications: These findings have implications for intervention in LLD, as depression severity may represent a more modifiable risk factor for disability.