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Multicenter Study
. 2015 Jun;45(8):1653-64.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291714002773. Epub 2014 Nov 24.

Risk factors for major depression during midlife among a community sample of women with and without prior major depression: are they the same or different?

J T Bromberger  1 , L Schott  1 , H M Kravitz  2 , H Joffe  3
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Risk factors for major depression during midlife among a community sample of women with and without prior major depression: are they the same or different?

J T Bromberger et al. Psychol Med. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Women's vulnerability for a first lifetime-onset of major depressive disorder (MDD) during midlife is substantial. It is unclear whether risk factors differ for first lifetime-onset and recurrent MDD. Identifying these risk factors can provide more focused depression screening and earlier intervention. This study aims to evaluate whether lifetime psychiatric and health histories, personality traits, menopausal status and factors that vary over time, e.g. symptoms, are independent risk factors for first-onset or recurrent MDD across 13 annual follow-ups.

Method: Four hundred and forty-three women, aged 42-52 years, enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation in Pittsburgh and participated in the Mental Health Study. Psychiatric interviews obtained information on lifetime psychiatric disorders at baseline and on occurrences of MDD episodes annually. Psychosocial and health-related data were collected annually. Cox multivariable analyses were conducted separately for women with and without a MDD history at baseline.

Results: Women without lifetime MDD at baseline had a lower risk of developing MDD during midlife than those with a prior MDD history (28% v. 59%) and their risk profiles differed. Health conditions prior to baseline and during follow-ups perception of functioning (ps < 0.05) and vasomotor symptoms (VMS) (p = 0.08) were risk factors for first lifetime-onset MDD. Being peri- and post-menopausal, psychological symptoms and a prior anxiety disorder were predominant risk factors for MDD recurrence.

Conclusions: The menopausal transition warrants attention as a period of vulnerability to MDD recurrence, while health factors and VMS should be considered important risk factors for first lifetime-onset of MDD during midlife.

Keywords: women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

Dr Joffe receives grant support from Cephalon/Teva and is a consultant/advisor for Noven and Merck. All other authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Sample for analyses of incident major depressive disorder (MDD) (follow-up 1–13 years) by lifetime history of MDD. FU, Follow-up, SWAN, Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation; MHS, Mental Health Study; SCID, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders; LT, lifetime.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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