Influence of stressful life events on development of depression and treatment response in the population of patients in higher age: The analysis of post-marketing observational study of antidepressant Escitalopram
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of stressful life events which occurred within five years before depressive episode in subjects older the 65 years and in younger patients and to clarify their impact on treatment response. The stressors from more then one indexed field occurred less frequently in older patients (> 65 y.).
These patients more often reported events connected with health and less often stressors involving employment, partnership and finances. The 60-65% variability of the change in psychopathology (CGI) was successfully predicted by the use forward step-wise multiple regression.
The intensity of baseline psychopathology was the most important predictor of treatment response in both groups. The duration of depressive episode and stressful life events including employment and health predicted response to escitalopram only in younger patients (< 65 y).
Our results indicate the different role of stressful life events in older patients with depression.