Older adults with existing depression show resilience during the
pandemic

Date:
August 19, 2020
Source:
University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Summary:
A multi-site study finds that seniors are more concerned with
being infected with COVID-19 than the effects of social isolation.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A study involving older adults with pre-existing major depressive
disorder living in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and St Louis found
no increase in depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.


========================================================================== Researchers from five institutions, including UCLA, found that the
older adults, who were already enrolled in ongoing studies of treatment resistant depression, also exhibited resilience to the stress of physical distancing and isolation. The findings were published in peer-reviewed
journal, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

"We thought they would be more vulnerable to the stress of COVID because
they are, by CDC definition, the most vulnerable population," said Helen Lavretsky, MD, a professor-in-residence of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and
Human Behavior at UCLA.

"But what we learned is that older adults with depression can be
resilient.

They told use that coping with chronic depression taught them to be
resilient" For the study, researchers conducted interviews with the participants, all of whom were over the age of 60, with an average age
of 69, during the first two months of the pandemic. Using two screening assessments of depression and anxiety, PHQ-9 and PROMIS, researchers
found no changes in the participants' depression, anxiety or suicidality
scores before and during the pandemic.

Researchers further determined that:
* Participants were more concerned about the risk of contracting
the virus
than the risks of isolation.

* While all maintained physical distance, most did not feel socially
isolated and were using virtual technology to connect with friends
and family.

* While they were coping, many participants said their quality of
life was
lower, and they worry their mental health will suffer with continued
physical distancing.

* Participants were upset by the inadequate governmental response
to the
pandemic.

Based on the findings, the study authors wrote that policies and
interventions to provide access to medical services and opportunities
for social interaction are needed to help older adults maintain mental
health and quality of life as the pandemic continues.

Lavretsky said many participants reported their quality of life to
be lower, and they worried that their mental health will suffer with
continued physical distancing. She said further research is needed to
determine the impact of the pandemic over time.

She added that the findings offer takeaways for others while weathering
the pandemic. "These older persons living with depression have been
under stress for a longer time than many of the rest of us. We could draw
upon their resilience and learn from it." The study identified several self-care and coping strategies used by the participants, which included maintaining regular schedules; distracting themselves from negative
emotions with hobbies, chores, work or exercise; and using mindfulness
to focus on immediate surroundings and needs without thinking beyond
the present.

The authors further emphasized that access to mental health care and
support groups, and continued social interaction are needed to help
older adults whether the pandemic.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Columbia University
College of Physicians and Surgeons/the New York State Department of
Mental Health, Washington University in St. Louis and the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health/University of Toronto.

The study was funded by the University of Pittsburgh Department of
Psychiatry.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_California_-_Los_Angeles_Health_Sciences.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Megan E. Hamm, Patrick J. Brown, Jordan F. Karp, Emily Lenard, Flor
Cameron, Alicia Dawdani, Helen Lavretsky, J. Philip Miller,
Benoit H.

Mulsant, Vy T. Pham, Charles F. Reynolds, Steven P. Roose, Eric
J. Lenze.

Experiences of American Older Adults with Pre-existing Depression
During the Beginnings of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicity,
Mixed-Methods Study. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,
2020; 28 (9): 924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2020.06.013 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200819170223.htm

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