The Experience of Older Adults Facing Depression for the First Time in Old Age

December 31, 2016 updated by: Shalvata Mental Health Center
Analysis of recent studies show that researchers find it hard to distinguish between Late Onset Depression, a first diagnosed major depressive episode which occurs at old age, and Early Onset Depression, a depressive episode at old age with a history of previous episodes. Since current data, about the phenomenology and etiology of Late Onset Depression, lake conicity it is unclear whether this phenomena should be considered as a distinct subtype of depression. Nevertheless, the wide spread assumption is that Late Onset Depression has a stronger correlation with brain damage and environmental risk factors such as the common losses at old age and weaker correlation with family history and genetics when compared to Early Onset. Although many researchers consider brain damage to have the main contribution to the emerge of Late Onset Depression, the fact that depression has a negative effect on one's health supports the claim that it might be the result and not the rick factor. Since Late Onset Depression correlates with the common losses at old age, the investigators propose that an existential approach that deals with one's meaning, freedom, responsibly and death, might be more appropriate. Thus, the investigators ask how do older adults experience depression which they face for the first time in old age? Current study will seek to understand older adults' experience of Late Onset depression through existential paradigm by using a semi constructed interview.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

15

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Hod HaSharon, Israel
        • Shalvata MHC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

62 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Israeli men and women after the age of retirement, 67 and 62 respectably, who are diagnosed with a major depressive episode, minor depressive episode or show depressive symptoms for the first time in their lives at old age.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Men aged 67 or more, women aged 62 or more
  2. Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, Minor Depressive Disorder or Adjustment Disorder with depressive features made after the age of 67 with men and 62 with women.
  3. Basic understanding and ability to converse in Hebrew.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of at least one previous major depressive or minor depressive episode before the age of 62 with women or 67 with men
  2. Mental Retardation or Autistic Spectrum Disorder
  3. Significant cognitive impairment observed by the primary physician.
  4. Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder.
  5. Depressive episode with psychotic features
  6. Substantial suicidality

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Case-Only
  • Time Perspectives: Retrospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Late onset depression
Each subject will be interviewed using a semi constructed interview.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Data analysis
Time Frame: 10 weeks
All the data collected, from each semi structured interview, will be analyzed by the investigator to find similarities or differences between the older adults' experience and to identify specific existential themes.
10 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

October 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 23, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 31, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

January 4, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 4, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 31, 2016

Last Verified

December 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • shalvataMHC

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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