Profile of discrete emotions in affective disorders in older primary care patients

• Published in: The Gerontologist 2001-10, Vol.41 (5), p.643-651
• Main Authors: Seidlitz, L, Lyness, J M, Conwell, Y, Duberstein, P R, Cox, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Depression - psychology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Emotions; Female; Humans; Inpatients - psychology; Male; Mental depression; Older people; Primary Health Care; Social research
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/41.5.643

This research examined whether the frequencies of specific emotions are associated with major and minor depression in older primary care patients. Older primary care patients (N = 146), prescreened with a depression questionnaire, completed a diagnostic interview and an emotions questionnaire. Controlling for age, sex, and other psychiatric and medical illnesses, major depressives differed from nondepressed controls in nine emotions; minor depressives differed from controls in four emotions. Major depressives differed from the controls more in sadness, joy, and interest--but not anger, fear, or guilt--than in comparison sets of emotions. Minor depressives differed from the controls more in sadness and inner-directed hostility--but not guilt, anger, fear, joy, or interest--than in comparison sets of emotions. The frequencies of discrete emotions are differentially associated with major and minor depression; future research is needed to determine their specific diagnostic and treatment implications.