Examining variation in depressive symptoms over the life course: a latent class analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Older adults have the lowest prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder, although it has been hypothesized that this finding is due in part to differences in expression of psychopathology in later life. The aim of this study was to examine variation in depressive symptomatology in the general population across the lifespan.

Method

Data came from three sites of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) Project (n=10 529). Depressive symptoms during the past 6 months were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify homogeneous groups of depressive symptomatology based on 16 individual symptoms, and to examine variation in the prevalence and composition of depression classes across age groups.

Re

SUBMITTER: Mezuk B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3889108 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature