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Neuroticism Traits Selectively Impact Long Term Illness Course and Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Manning, KJ; Chan, G; Steffens, DC
Published in: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
March 2017

OBJECTIVES: Neuroticism is a broad construct that conveys a predisposition to experience psychological distress and negative mood states. Vulnerability to stress (VS) is one neuroticism trait that has been linked to worse mood and cognitive outcomes in older adults. We hypothesized that elevated VS would be associated with worse illness course and cognitive decline in older adults with late-life major depression (LLD). DESIGN: Participants were enrolled in the Neurocognitive Outcomes of Depression in the Elderly (NCODE), a longitudinal investigation of the predictors of poor illness course and cognitive decline in LLD. Participants were followed upwards of 10 years. SETTING: NCODE operates in a naturalistic treatment milieu. PARTICIPANTS: 112 participants aged 60 and older with a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder. MEASUREMENTS: Treatment response was assessed at least every 3 months and more often if clinically needed. Participants also completed the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R) and an annual cognitive examination. Neuroticism traits from the NEO PI-R included anxiety, depression, anger-hostility, self-consciousness, impulsivity, and VS. RESULTS: Higher neuroticism traits of VS, impulsivity, anger-hostility, and anxiety were associated with worse treatment response over time. High VS was the only neuroticism trait significantly associated with cognitive functioning. High VS negatively influenced the rate of global cognitive decline over time. CONCLUSIONS: Individual personality traits within the neuroticism dimension are associated with treatment resistance and cognitive impairment in LLD. It remains to be seen whether these individual traits are associated with different neurobiological substrates and clinical characteristics of LLD.

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Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

March 2017

Volume

25

Issue

3

Start / End Page

220 / 229

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Neuroticism
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Disease Progression
  • Depressive Disorder, Major
  • Cognitive Dysfunction
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Manning, K. J., Chan, G., & Steffens, D. C. (2017). Neuroticism Traits Selectively Impact Long Term Illness Course and Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 25(3), 220–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2016.10.006
Manning, Kevin J., Grace Chan, and David C. Steffens. “Neuroticism Traits Selectively Impact Long Term Illness Course and Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 25, no. 3 (March 2017): 220–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2016.10.006.
Manning KJ, Chan G, Steffens DC. Neuroticism Traits Selectively Impact Long Term Illness Course and Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017 Mar;25(3):220–9.
Manning, Kevin J., et al. “Neuroticism Traits Selectively Impact Long Term Illness Course and Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, vol. 25, no. 3, Mar. 2017, pp. 220–29. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2016.10.006.
Manning KJ, Chan G, Steffens DC. Neuroticism Traits Selectively Impact Long Term Illness Course and Cognitive Decline in Late-Life Depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017 Mar;25(3):220–229.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1545-7214

Publication Date

March 2017

Volume

25

Issue

3

Start / End Page

220 / 229

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Neuroticism
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Disease Progression
  • Depressive Disorder, Major
  • Cognitive Dysfunction