Factors associated with the onset of an episode of depressive symptoms in the general population
Publication type
Journal article
Date published
2003 Jul 01
Journal
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
Volume
56
Issue
7
Pages
651-658
PMID
12921934
Open Access?
No
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between spinal pain, headache, health, demographic and socio-economic characteristics, and development of depressive symptomatology. METHODS: A population-based, random sample of adults was surveyed and followed at 6 and 12 months. Individuals at risk of depression at baseline are the subjects of this article (n=845). We used Cox proportional hazards models to measure the time-varying effects of demographic, socio-economic, and health status; comorbid medical conditions; spinal pain; and headaches on the development of depression. RESULTS: After adjusting for baseline depressive symptoms and factors associated with nonresponse to follow-up, we found that spinal pain severity, younger age, marital status (separated/divorced/widowed), self-perceived poor health status, and comorbid neurologic and gastro-intestinal disease were associated with onset of a new episode of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Important predictors of depressive symptomatology include demographic characteristics, health problems, and pain problems