Depression Most Persistent in Older Women

Older women are more likely to become depressed than older men and more likely to stay that way, shows a study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine.

The study monitored 754 seniors age 70 and older from 1998 to 2005 for seven years. Subjects completed cognitive assessments and mental health screenings every 18 months. Results showed that 35.7 percent of subjects were depressed at one assessment point, 17.8 percent at two consecutive points, 11.2 percent at three time points, 6.3 percent at four points and 4.5 percent at five points.

Overall, more men were depressed at individual time points, but women were more likely to be depressed at two or more consecutive assessments. They were also more likely to transition from not depressed to depressed, but were less likely to recover.

One small piece of good news for women did emerge from the research, however. Despite previous studies showing depression contributes to early mortality, the study found that women are less likely than men to die while depressed.

ABSTRACT: Higher Burden of Depression Among Older Women