Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Toward a threshold for subthreshold depression: an analysis of correlates of depression by severity of symptoms using data from an elderly community sample.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hybels, CF; Blazer, DG; Pieper, CF
Published in: Gerontologist
June 2001

PURPOSE: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in elderly adults is high, yet the criteria to identify clinically significant depression may leave many elders undiagnosed and untreated. We explored the demographic and risk factor profiles of two groups, one with more severe depression and one with less severe depression. DESIGN AND METHODS: The data come from the Duke University Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (EPESE) baseline survey of 4,162 community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression meeting criteria of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) and sub-threshold depression was 9.1% and 9.9%, respectively. In ordinal logistic regression, both CES-D and subthreshold depression were associated with impairment in physical functioning, disability days, poorer self-rated health, use of psychotropic medications, perceived low social support, female gender, and being unmarried. IMPLICATIONS: Depression appears to exist along a continuum, with demographic and social and physical health predictors of subthreshold depression similar to predictors of depression as defined by the CES-D scale.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Gerontologist

DOI

ISSN

0016-9013

Publication Date

June 2001

Volume

41

Issue

3

Start / End Page

357 / 365

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Sampling Studies
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Frail Elderly
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Hybels, C. F., Blazer, D. G., & Pieper, C. F. (2001). Toward a threshold for subthreshold depression: an analysis of correlates of depression by severity of symptoms using data from an elderly community sample. Gerontologist, 41(3), 357–365. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/41.3.357
Hybels, C. F., D. G. Blazer, and C. F. Pieper. “Toward a threshold for subthreshold depression: an analysis of correlates of depression by severity of symptoms using data from an elderly community sample.Gerontologist 41, no. 3 (June 2001): 357–65. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/41.3.357.
Hybels, C. F., et al. “Toward a threshold for subthreshold depression: an analysis of correlates of depression by severity of symptoms using data from an elderly community sample.Gerontologist, vol. 41, no. 3, June 2001, pp. 357–65. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/geront/41.3.357.
Journal cover image

Published In

Gerontologist

DOI

ISSN

0016-9013

Publication Date

June 2001

Volume

41

Issue

3

Start / End Page

357 / 365

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Sampling Studies
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Frail Elderly
  • Female