Author/Editor | Bottomley, Christian; Nazareth, Irwin; Torres-Gonzalez, Francisco; Švab, Igor; Maaroos, Heidi-Ingrid; Geerlings, Mirjam I; Xavier, Miguel; Saldivia, Sandra; King, Michael | |
Title | Comparison of risk factors for the onset and maintenance of depression | |
Type | članek | |
Source | Br J Psychiatry | |
Vol. and No. | Letnik 196, št. 1 | |
Publication year | 2010 | |
Volume | str. 13-7 | |
Language | eng | |
Abstract | Background: Factors associated with depression are usually identified from cross-sectional studies. AIMS: We explore the relative roles of onset and recovery in determining these associations. Method: Hazard ratios for onset and recovery were estimated for 39 risk factors from a cohort study of 10,045 general practice attendees whose depression status was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Results: Risk factors have a stronger relative effect on the rate of onset than recovery. The strongest risk factors for both onset and maintenance of depression tend to be time-dependent. With the exception of female gender the strength of a risk factor's effect on onset is highly predictive of its impact on recovery. Conclusions: Preventive measures will achieve a greater reduction in the prevalence of depression than measures designed to eliminate risk factors post onset. The strength of time-dependent risk factors suggests that it is more productive to focus on proximal rather than distal factors. | |
Descriptors | DEPRESSIVE DISORDER RISK FACTORS |