The Association between Late-life Depression and Medical Illness

The Association between Late-life Depression and Medical Illness Maria D. Llorente MD Professor Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami The “Graying” of America  By the year 2025, the world’s older population (60 and older) will approach 1.2 billion.  By the year 2030, 1 of every 5 people in the U.S. will be 65 or older.  Older Americans will number more than 65 million Late-Life Depression • Incidence of major depression declines with age, but minor depression is much more common • Depressive symptoms occur in 15%–25% of older adults (>65 years) that fail to meet criteria but cause distress and interfere with functioning • Fewer than half of depressed seniors are recognized as being depressed and of those who are identified fewer than half receive treatment U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, NIH, NIMH, 1999. Primary Care is the De Facto Mental Health System (in the United States) responsible for the care of more patients with mental disorders than the specialty mental health sector. Regier et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1993; 50:85-94 Epidemiology of Major Depression • 16.2% of US population report at least one lifetime episode • More than half of patients have first episode by age 40 • 25% of older cancer patients • 25-50% of post-stroke patients • 1/3 of Alzheimer’s patients • 50% of Parkinson’s patients • 30% of post-MI Patients Depression Guideline Panel. Depression in Primary Care: Vol 1. Detection and Diagnosis. Clinical Practice Guideline No. 5. Rockville, MD: US Dept of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; no. 93-0550; 1993. Kessler RC et al. J Affect Disord. 1993;29:85-96. Kessler et al., JAMA 2003; Evans et al., J Clin Psych 1999; Astrom et al., Stroke, 1993; Tiller et al., Psychopharm 1992; Meaf et al., Neurology 1994; Cumming Am J Psych 1992. Minority Elderly and Depression • • HISPANIC >65 will increase by more than 450% by 2050 Depressive disorder prevalence in primary care increased from 4.5% to 8.6% between 1992-97 Higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (1140%) Higher depression-associated mortality from both suicide and medical disorders AFRICAN-AMERICAN • >65 will increase by 131% by 2030 • Lower rates of depression recognition and treatment • Poorer medical outcomes associated with comorbid depression (EX: diabetes and stroke/hyperglycemia/renal failure/hypertriglyceridemia) • • Major Depression Is Associated with Chronic Medical Illness 30 6%–25% 25 20 Prevalence of Major Depression (%) 15 6%–14% 5%–10% 10 5 0 Community Primary Care Clinic Medical Inpatient Setting Nursing Home 2%–4% Katon W, Schulberg H. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1992;14:237-247. Rosen J, Mulsant BH, Pollock BG. Nursing Home Med. 1997;5:156-165. Impact of Untreated Depression: Morbidity & Mortality • Patient morbidity – Poorer health outcomes – Suicide attempts – Accidents – Lost jobs – Alcohol Use & Abuse – Marital Problems • Mortality – Older white men have highest suicide rates – Fatal accidents – Death due to related medical complications • Societal costs – Caregiver burden – Higher medical costs – Increased healthcare utilization Preskorn SH. Outpatient Management of Depression: A Guide for the Primary Care Practitioner. 2nd ed. Caddo, OK: Professional Communications, Inc.; 1999: Chapter 2. Comparison of Physical and Social Functioning in Other Medical Illnesses Depression impairs physical and social functioning significantly more than these medical illnesses 100 95 Social or Physical Functioning Score† 90 85 * 80 75 70 0 Depressive Disorder * P <0.05 vs depressive disorder. † Score of 100 = perfect functioning. Wells KB et al. JAMA. 1989;262:914-919. * Physical Function Social Function * * * * * * Hypertension Diabetes Arthritis No Chronic Condition Medical Outcomes and Depression Major Depression: Post-MI Survival % Cardiac Mortality OR = 3.6 25 20 15 10 5 00 Depressed (N=35) Non-depressed (N=187) 6 12 months 18 Frasure-Smith, Lesperance, 1998 Major Depression and Congestive Heart Failure • More severe medical illness and more functional impairment than nondepressed (Freedman 2001) • Utilize more inpatient/outpatient medical services than non-depressed (Koenig, 1998) Major Depression and Congestive Heart Failure • Associated with increased risk of functional decline or death at 6 month f/u (Vaccarino, 2001) • Depression is significant predictor of mortality in clinically stable CHF patients (Murberg, 1999) • Greater severity of depression associated with 3-fold increased risk of mortality at 1 year f/u than non-depressed (Jiang, 2001) Major Depression and Diabetes Mellitus • 28% of sample reported moderately severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety • Significant association between depressive symptoms and high Hgb A1C in men • 1/3 reported they’d like counseling Lloyd et.al. Diabet Med 2000 Mar;17(3):198-202 Major Depression and Diabetes Mellitus • Medline and PsycINFO databases and published reference lists were used to identify studies that measured the association of depression with glucose control. • A total of 24 studies satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. • Depression was significantly associated with hyperglycemia (Z = 5.4, P < 0.0001). Lustman et.al. Diabetes Care 2000 Jul;23(7):934-42 Major Depression and Diabetes Mellitus • 183 African-American men with diabetes • 30% had significant depressive symptoms (CES-D >22) • Greater depressive symptoms significantly associated with higher serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (P<0.050). Gary et.al. Diabetes Care 2000 Jan;23(1):23-9 Medical Illness, Depression and Suicide • Record-linkage of 2323 suicides among 1.9 million people 50 and older in Denmark showed that neoplasms, circulatory/respiratory and digestive diseases confer increased risk; infections, nutritional, metabolic diseases increased risk for hospitalized men; did not control for mood disorders (Erlangsen et al; JAGS 2005) • Pulmonary disease, cancer, visual impairment and neurological disorder confer risk after adjusting for mood disorders (Waern et al; BMJ 2002) Suicide Rates By Age & Gender (Per 100,000) 70 CDC. National Center for Health Statistics; 2000 60 50 40 30 0 20 10 80 WHITE M WHITE F 85+ AA M AA F 40 60 0 20 Suicide and Lifetime Axis I Diagnosis By Age 100 80 60 40 20 0 21-54 55-74 75 Affective syndromes Other (primary psychosis, ETOH, substance, etc) No diagnosis Conwell, Am J Psychiatry, 1994 Reasons for Underdiagnosis of Late-life Depression in Primary Care • Over-identification with the patient • Lack of time • Lack of training in mental health • False belief that older adults won’t respond to treatment • Atypical symptoms in older adults DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Major Depression Sleep:  5 Symptoms in the same 2-week period Insomnia or hypersomnia Loss of interest* Concentration: Diminished ability to think or make decisions Interest*:Depressed mood* Guilt: Energy: Feelings of worthlessness Fatigue Appetite: Weight change Psychomotor: Psychomotor slowing or agitation Suicide: * Must include 1 of these DSM-IV-TR. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association. 2000. Preoccupation with death Clinical Features of Late-life Depression • “Depression” without sadness • Irritability • Prominent Anxiety • Cognitive complaints • Prominent vague somatic complaints • Unexplained health worries • Heightened pain complaints • Loss of interest and pleasure • Social withdrawal or avoidance of social interactions • Multiple primary care visits without resolution of the problem • Unexplained functional decline Early-onset v. Late-onset Early-onset • Index episode in childhood or early adult life Late-onset • Index episode after age 50 • Less genetic predisposition • First degree relatives with depression • Less physical illness • More psychiatric comorbidity (SUD; personality disorders) • Sad mood • Chronic physical illness • Poorer treatment response with more chronic course • Increased mortality • Abnormal brain imaging • Les psych comorbidity • Apathy and anhedonia Phases of Treatment for Depression Remission Relapse Euthymia Increased severity Symptoms Recurrence Relapse Response Syndrome Treatment phases Acute (6–12 wk) Continuation Maintenance (4–9 mo) ( 1 yr) Time Kupfer DJ. J Clin Psychiatry. 1991;52(suppl 5):28. Treatment Goal The goal of treatment with either antidepressant medication or psychotherapy in the acute phase is the remission of major depressive disorder symptoms APA Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders. 2000. Pseudodementia • Patients may present with complaints of loss of memory • Frequent “I don’t know responses” on exam • Often a prodrome of dementing illness (as many as 50% may develop dementia within 5 years) • If prodromal, usually late-onset, with prominent psychomotor retardation and/or psychotic features • Consider frequent neurocognitive testing, and early use of cognitive-enhancing agents. Vascular depression • Frontostriatal disconnection/dysfunction (Executive dysfunction – impairment in IADLs) • Prominent psychomotor slowing and apathy • Poorer response to treatment, higher risk of relapse and recurrence • Limited vegetative symptoms and little depressive ideation • Brain imaging abnormalities: enlarged ventricles, white matter hyperintensities Post-stroke depression • 3-6 months after CVA • Prominent vegetative features • Larger lesion volumes • Likely biological pathogenesis • 12-24 months after CVA • Fewer vegetative symptoms, more apathy • Associated with significant social and physical impairments Depression with Psychosis • 4% of depressed elderly • 45% of psychiatrically hospitalized elderly • Frequent and severe anxiety and agitation • Somatic delusions common, but few hallucinations • Nihilistic beliefs, hopelessness • Often have suicidal ideations • ECT indicated as first-line treatment Minor Depression • Subsyndromal Depression • Associated with significant functional impairment and disability, lower quality of life and increased medical care utilization • Associated with progression to depression at one year follow-up • DSM-IV-TR: qualitatively similar to major depression, but only 2-4 symptoms needed Caregiver Depression • Often seen in those caring for older adult with dementia • Associated with changing roles, increased responsibility, risk of social isolation, grief surrounding loss of demented person • Often fail to recognize stress/burden, but report fatigue, insomnia, social withdrawal, and feeling “burned out” • Affects quality of caregiving Caregiver Depression Barriers to open discussion: • Need to protect themselves from feelings of disloyalty due to “complaining about” loved one • May represent failure as caregiver • Family already burdened with demented loved one, don’t want to add to burden • Fear of own feelings of anger, guilt, ambivalence • Need to approach from the perspective of enhancing the care provided Family Intervention and Nursing Home Placement 1 Cumulative proportion of surviving patients 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Survival time (year) Mittelman, JAMA 1996 Treatment Control Bereavement • Losses frequently encountered in late-life that lead to bereavement • Features that distinguish depression from bereavement: •Guilt •Suicidal thoughts •Morbid preoccupation wit h worthlessness •Psychomotor retardation •Prolonged and marked functional impairment •Complex hallucinations (not just thinking they heard voice of loved one, or transiently saw their image Comorbidity of Depression & Anxiety • Nearly 3/4 of community-dwelling adults with lifetime Major Depression also meet criteria for at least 1 other DSM-IV diagnosis • Most (59.2%) of these are anxiety disorders Kessler et al., JAMA 2003 • 86% of older adults with anxiety disorders also met criteria for a depressive disorder PRISM-E, (Bartels et al, Am J Psych 2005) Comorbidity of Depression & Anxiety • In older adults, comorbid anxiety disorder and depression is associated with: - greater symptom severity - poorer social functioning - more difficult course of illness - decreased or delayed treatment response - higher level of suicidality Angst 1999, Roy-Byrne 2000, Lenze 2000, 2001, Bartels 2002 Do Anxiety Symptoms Also Respond to Antidepressant Medication Treatment? Study Design • A randomized, double-blind, flexible-dose study • 24 wk treatment Inclusion Criteria • Outpatients age18–65 years • DSM-IV major depression and mixed anxiety/depression • HAMD-24 baseline score 18 for depressive symptoms • HAMA baseline score 17 for anxiety symptoms • Citalopram (Celexa) N = 52 • Paroxetine (Paxil) N = 52 • Dose range: 20–40 mg/d • Outcome measures: HAMD-24, HAMA Jefferson J, Greist JH. Poster presented at APA, 2001. Effects on Depression: Citalopram vs Paroxetine Treatment Week 0 1 2 0 Citalopram 20–40 mg/d (n = 52) Paroxetine 20–40 mg/d (n = 52) 4 6 8 12 16 20 24 -4 HAMD-24 Mean Change From Baseline -8 -12 -16 -20 Jefferson J, Greist JH. Poster presented at APA, 2001. Effects on Anxiety: Citalopram vs Paroxetine Treatment Week 0 1 2 0 Citalopram 20–40 mg/d (n = 52) Paroxetine 20–40 mg/d (n = 52) 4 6 8 12 16 20 24 -4 HAMA Mean Change From Baseline -8 -12 -16 Jefferson J, Greist JH. Poster presented at APA, 2001. Antidepressant Doses Medication Initial Dose (mg/d) Usual Dose Concerns Adult Geriatric Fluoxetine (Prozac) Sertraline (Zoloft) Paroxetine (Paxil) Citalopram (Celexa) Escitalopram (Lexapro) 10 25 20-40 100-250 10-20 75-150 P450 interactions P450 interactions Anticholinergic Somnolence Nausea/insomnia/activation Seizures Hepatitis 10 10 10 75 50 25-50 15 25 20-60 20-60 10-20 100-300 200-400 100-400 15-45 150-225 20-40 20 10 150 100-150 75-150 15-45 75-150 OTHERS Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Nefazodone (Serzone) Trazodone (Desyrel) Mirtazapine (Remeron) Venlafaxine (Effexor) Anticholinergic Somnolence  BP Hypotheses for Low Remission Rates in Major Depression • Patients satisfied with incomplete response • Patients, clinicians do not expect remission • Treatments may not be well tolerated • Physicians not comfortable or familiar with recommended optimal dosages Keller MB, et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1992;49:809-816. Electro-convulsive therapy Indicated in patients who: • Are acutely suicidal • Have major depression with psychotic features • Have failed 2 adequate trials of antidepressants • Cannot tolerate antidepressant tx • Have previously responded to ECT and prefer this tx Patients on average need 6-8 treatments General Principles of Late-life Depression Management • Education for patient/family that meds are not effective until patient has taken them for the right amount of time (usually 3-6 weeks) in the right dose • Start low, go slow, but go – need to reach therapeutic dose • Minimum duration is 9-12 months after symptom remission for first episode • Recommend long-term treatment in patients with 2 or more lifetime episodes Evidence-based Management of Late-life Depression • Annual screening for depression in all patients • Patients who screen positive are assessed within 6 weeks for a depressive disorder and/or suicidal ideas • Those who assess positive require treatment with either therapy/ medication alone or in combination • At least 3 follow-up visits within first 3 months • Index episode treated for at least 9-12 months • Recurrent episode maintained on antidepressant longterm