Somatic and anxiety symptoms of depression are associated with disability in late life depression

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the relationships of somatic and anxiety symptoms of depression with functional disability in a sample of older adults with late life depression.

Method: Data were analyzed from 78 older adults aged 65–88 with current major depression. Somatic and anxiety symptoms from the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were summed to create variables measuring severity of these symptoms. Other symptoms of depression were also assessed using the remaining items of the HDRS. Current physical health burden was assessed using the Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI). Disability was measured with the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) total limitation score. A linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association of somatic and anxiety symptoms with disability independent of other factors.

Results: The model accounted for 26.6% of variance in disability, (F(6,51) = 3.1, p = .01). Somatic (B = −1.9, p = .004) and anxiety (B = −3.7, p = .04) symptoms of depression were significantly associated with disability. Other depressive symptoms and physical illness burden were not associated with disability.

Discussion: In older adults with major depression, somatic and anxiety symptoms of depression are associated with disability. Identification and treatment to remission of these symptoms may improve functional outcomes among older depressed adults.

Keywords:

• Late life depression
• disability
• somatic symptoms
• anxious symptoms

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliations Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment, Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinic Centers, San Francisco VA Medical Center, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, and K08 grant MH081065.