Abstract
Objective: Depression is commonly found as a coexisting condition in dementia. An earlier retrospective study by the authors found that patients with coexisting dementia and depression (CDD) were high utilizers of inpatient and nursing home care. The current prospective study was designed to investigate specific factors that might contribute to outcomes such as nursing home placement by examining the detection and course of CDD subjects as compared with subjects with either disorder alone. Methods: Eighty-two subjects (N = 29 with CDD, N = 27 with Depression Alone, and N = 26 with Dementia Alone) were recruited and reassessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline assessment. Results: Lower rates of depression detection by treating (non-study) physicians were found in CDD subjects. Only 35% of the CDD group were correctly diagnosed and receiving adequate treatment for their depression. Although the CDD group did not differ in baseline dementia stage or cognitive functioning as compared with the dementia-only group, they had significantly higher levels of functional impairment. CDD subjects used nursing home care at significantly higher rates; nursing home placement correlated significantly with baseline severity of functional impairment and mood measures, but not with other factors, including dementia stage and medical burden. Conclusions: Undetected, untreated, or inadequately treated depression may result in higher rates of nursing home placement in patients with dementia by increasing their functional disability. Aggressive outpatient treatment of depression could improve the course of coexisting dementia and depression.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 441-449 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Rates of clinical depression diagnosis, functional impairment, and nursing home placement in coexisting dementia and depression. / Kales, Helen C.; Chen, Peijun; Blow, Frederic C.; Welsh, Deborah E.; Mellow, Alan M.
In: American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Vol. 13, No. 6, 01.01.2005, p. 441-449.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Rates of clinical depression diagnosis, functional impairment, and nursing home placement in coexisting dementia and depression
AU - Kales, Helen C.
AU - Chen, Peijun
AU - Blow, Frederic C.
AU - Welsh, Deborah E.
AU - Mellow, Alan M.
PY - 2005/1/1
Y1 - 2005/1/1
N2 - Objective: Depression is commonly found as a coexisting condition in dementia. An earlier retrospective study by the authors found that patients with coexisting dementia and depression (CDD) were high utilizers of inpatient and nursing home care. The current prospective study was designed to investigate specific factors that might contribute to outcomes such as nursing home placement by examining the detection and course of CDD subjects as compared with subjects with either disorder alone. Methods: Eighty-two subjects (N = 29 with CDD, N = 27 with Depression Alone, and N = 26 with Dementia Alone) were recruited and reassessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline assessment. Results: Lower rates of depression detection by treating (non-study) physicians were found in CDD subjects. Only 35% of the CDD group were correctly diagnosed and receiving adequate treatment for their depression. Although the CDD group did not differ in baseline dementia stage or cognitive functioning as compared with the dementia-only group, they had significantly higher levels of functional impairment. CDD subjects used nursing home care at significantly higher rates; nursing home placement correlated significantly with baseline severity of functional impairment and mood measures, but not with other factors, including dementia stage and medical burden. Conclusions: Undetected, untreated, or inadequately treated depression may result in higher rates of nursing home placement in patients with dementia by increasing their functional disability. Aggressive outpatient treatment of depression could improve the course of coexisting dementia and depression.
AB - Objective: Depression is commonly found as a coexisting condition in dementia. An earlier retrospective study by the authors found that patients with coexisting dementia and depression (CDD) were high utilizers of inpatient and nursing home care. The current prospective study was designed to investigate specific factors that might contribute to outcomes such as nursing home placement by examining the detection and course of CDD subjects as compared with subjects with either disorder alone. Methods: Eighty-two subjects (N = 29 with CDD, N = 27 with Depression Alone, and N = 26 with Dementia Alone) were recruited and reassessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after baseline assessment. Results: Lower rates of depression detection by treating (non-study) physicians were found in CDD subjects. Only 35% of the CDD group were correctly diagnosed and receiving adequate treatment for their depression. Although the CDD group did not differ in baseline dementia stage or cognitive functioning as compared with the dementia-only group, they had significantly higher levels of functional impairment. CDD subjects used nursing home care at significantly higher rates; nursing home placement correlated significantly with baseline severity of functional impairment and mood measures, but not with other factors, including dementia stage and medical burden. Conclusions: Undetected, untreated, or inadequately treated depression may result in higher rates of nursing home placement in patients with dementia by increasing their functional disability. Aggressive outpatient treatment of depression could improve the course of coexisting dementia and depression.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84903109926&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84903109926&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00019442-200506000-00002
DO - 10.1097/00019442-200506000-00002
M3 - Article
C2 - 15956263
AN - SCOPUS:84903109926
VL - 13
SP - 441
EP - 449
JO - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
SN - 1064-7481
IS - 6
ER -