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Barry W. Rovner, MD; Pearl S. German, ScD; Larry J. Brant, PhD; Rebecca Clark; Lynda Burton, MA; Marshal F. Folstein, MD

JAMA. 1991;265(8):993-996.

Abstract
To determine the prevalence rates of major depressive disorder and of depressive symptoms and their relationship to mortality in nursing homes, research psychiatrists examined 454 consecutive new admissions and followed them up longitudinally for 1 year. Major depressive disorder occurred in 12.6% and 18.1% had depressive symptoms; the majority of cases were unrecognized by nursing home physicians and were untreated. Major depressive disorder, but not depressive symptoms, was a risk factor for mortality over 1 year independent of selected physical health measures and increased the likelihood of death by 59%. Because depression is a prevalent and treatable condition associated with increased mortality, recognition and treatment in nursing homes is imperative.

(JAMA. 1991;265:993-996)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (Drs Rovner and Folstein); the Department of Health Policy and Management, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md (Dr German and Mss Clark and Burton); and the Gerontology Research Center, Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Md (Dr Brant).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Osier 320, 600 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205 (Dr Rovner).

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