ArticleInternational journal of geriatric psychiatry2025
Persistence and Determinants of Late-Life Depression: Results of the Nationally Representative Longitudinal German Aging Survey 2008 to 2023.
Article in International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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- Persistence and Determinants of Late-Life Depression: Results of the Nationally Representative Longitudinal German Aging Survey 2008 to 2023.International journal of geriatric psychiatry · 2025Article
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3 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesLate-life depression is the most common mental disorder in older adults. As symptom progression and risk factors are not well understood, this study focuses on longitudinal symptom progression and time-varying risk factors.
methodsLongitudinal data of adults aged 60+ were drawn from six waves (2008-2023) of the German Aging Survey (DEAS), with the largest analytic sample in 2014 (n = 6515). At each wave participants were classified as having "no" (0-9), "minor" (10-17) or "major" (18-45) depressive symptoms (DS) based on the German Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Persistent DS were defined as PDS (at least minor DS) or majorPDS (major DS) across two consecutive waves. Weighted transition probabilities between DS stages were calculated across all person-years. Linear fixed effects regression with cluster-robust standard errors was used to identify time-varying determinants of DS.
resultsIn 2014, the prevalence rate was 17.4% [16.6%-18.1%] for minor DS, 7.2% [6.6%-7.8%] for major DS, 12.2% [11.3%-13.1%] for PDS and 2.5% [2.0%-3.1%] for majorPDS. Estimates were similar across all six waves. Minor DS frequently persisted (37.3% [34.1%-40.6%]) or progressed to major DS (11.7% [9.6%-14.2%]). Major DS persisted in 38.6% [31.1%-46.7%] and remitted to minor DS in 31.8% [25.9%-38.3%] of cases. Transition to widowhood (β = 0.67, p < 0.05), worsening of physical functioning (β = -0.06, p < 0.01), increasing loneliness (β = 1.02, p < 0.01), worsening of sleep quality (β = 0.78-4.40, p < 0.01) and decreasing BMI (β = -0.08, p < 0.01) were associated with increases in DS.
conclusionsDS are common in later life and are frequently persistent. Minor DS often persist or worsen, underscoring their role as a key risk factor. Major DS frequently remits only partly. Early, targeted interventions could be informed by modifiable determinants that may also help to allocate scarce mental health resources effectively.
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