Objective: To determine the effect of living with a depressed elderly individual on the mental health of the cohabitant carer.
Method: Case-control study comparing rates of psychiatric morbidity in cohabitants of depressed versus well elderly.
Setting: Community sample.
Participants: 44 couples, one partner with AGECAT depression, and 44 couples, one partner diagnosed well by AGECAT. Cohabitants were matched for gender, age and physical health status. All subjects were aged 65 years and over.
Main outcome measure: Odds ratio of case or subcase depression and/or neurotic disorder in cohabitants of depressed elderly.
Results: 28/44 (64%) cohabitants of depressed subjects were cases (N = 9) or subcases (N = 19) of depression, neurotic disorder or both, compared to 13/44 (29%) cases (N = 1) or subcases (N = 12) in cohabitants of well subjects (OR = 6.33, 95% CI (1.7-18.3), p = < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study reveals high levels of psychiatric morbidity, primarily depression and anxiety symptoms, in the cohabitants of depressed community-dwelling elderly. This suggest that living with a depressed elderly person may have an adverse effect on the mental health of the cohabitant. Increased recognition of the potential psychiatric morbidity in this group is needed.