Persistence and Determinants of Late-Life Depression: Results of the Nationally Representative Longitudinal German Aging Survey 2008 to 2023.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Late-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.

Methods

Longitudinal 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 a

SUBMITTER: Stratmann MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12710116 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature