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Psychosocial and physical correlates of chronic depression.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hays, JC; Krishnan, KR; George, LK; Pieper, CF; Flint, EP; Blazer, DG
Published in: Psychiatry Res
October 10, 1997

This study used a case-control design to address differences in psychosocial, physical and clinical profiles between subjects who presented with a chronic index episode of major depression and those who presented with a non-chronic index episode. Subjects were adult patients participating in the Duke University Mental Health Clinical Research Center (MHCRC) for the Study of Depression in Later Life. Cases (N = 88) who reported duration of depressive symptoms lasting > or = 24 months at enrollment were compared to controls (N = 354) who reported symptoms lasting 1-12 months. The groups were compared with respect to selected demographic and clinical variables, physical function deficits, medical comorbidity, social support constructs and number of recent stressful life events. Social support and physical health were more relevant to chronicity of major depressive illness than were severity of illness or family history. Older age (> 60 years) intensified the deleterious effect of recent negative life events and reduced the deleterious effect of functional impairment on chronic major depression. These findings require special emphasis where treatment for chronic major depression is divorced from considerations of the social environment and functional capacity.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Psychiatry Res

DOI

ISSN

0165-1781

Publication Date

October 10, 1997

Volume

72

Issue

3

Start / End Page

149 / 159

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Support
  • Social Environment
  • Sick Role
  • Psychiatry
  • Personality Inventory
  • Patient Admission
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Hays, J. C., Krishnan, K. R., George, L. K., Pieper, C. F., Flint, E. P., & Blazer, D. G. (1997). Psychosocial and physical correlates of chronic depression. Psychiatry Res, 72(3), 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(97)00105-4
Hays, J. C., K. R. Krishnan, L. K. George, C. F. Pieper, E. P. Flint, and D. G. Blazer. “Psychosocial and physical correlates of chronic depression.Psychiatry Res 72, no. 3 (October 10, 1997): 149–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(97)00105-4.
Hays JC, Krishnan KR, George LK, Pieper CF, Flint EP, Blazer DG. Psychosocial and physical correlates of chronic depression. Psychiatry Res. 1997 Oct 10;72(3):149–59.
Hays, J. C., et al. “Psychosocial and physical correlates of chronic depression.Psychiatry Res, vol. 72, no. 3, Oct. 1997, pp. 149–59. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0165-1781(97)00105-4.
Hays JC, Krishnan KR, George LK, Pieper CF, Flint EP, Blazer DG. Psychosocial and physical correlates of chronic depression. Psychiatry Res. 1997 Oct 10;72(3):149–159.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychiatry Res

DOI

ISSN

0165-1781

Publication Date

October 10, 1997

Volume

72

Issue

3

Start / End Page

149 / 159

Location

Ireland

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Support
  • Social Environment
  • Sick Role
  • Psychiatry
  • Personality Inventory
  • Patient Admission
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans