Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-ws8qp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T13:47:33.985Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Does the impact of major stressful life events on the risk of developing depression change throughout life?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2003

L. V. KESSING
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet; and National Centre for Register-based Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark
E. AGERBO
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet; and National Centre for Register-based Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark
P. B. MORTENSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet; and National Centre for Register-based Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Abstract

Background. It is unclear whether there is an interaction of ageing on the association between major life events and onset of depression.

Method. This was a population-based nested case–control study with linkage of the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register and the Integrated Database for Longitudinal Labour Market Research. The study includes data on all admissions at psychiatric wards in Denmark from 1981 to 1998 and data on sociodemographic variables and death/suicide of first-degree relatives.

Results. A total of 13006 patients who received a diagnosis of depression at the first ever admission at a psychiatric ward and a gender- and age-matched control group of 260108 subjects were identified. A recent divorce and recent unemployment and suicide of a relative (mother, father, sibling, child, spouse) were associated with increased risk of being admitted for the first time ever at a psychiatric ward with a diagnosis of depression whereas death of a relative by causes other than suicide years had no significant effect. In general, no interaction was found with age with any of the variables, totally, or for men or women, separately.

Conclusions. The susceptibility to major life stressors does not seem to change throughout life.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)