Reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and satisfaction with sexual life in older adults: the roles of gender and importance attached to sexuality.

Objectives: To gain insight into the longitudinal, reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and sexual satisfaction as well as the potential moderating roles of gender and perceived importance of sexuality.

Method: We analyzed longitudinal data from 2113 participants of the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA) with an initial age range of 54-93 years, using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE).

Results: There were no significant associations between baseline depressive symptoms and change in sexual satisfaction, nor between baseline sexual satisfaction and change in depressive symptoms.

Loneliness, social network size and mortality in older adults: a meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Loneliness and social network size have been found to be predictors of mortality in older adults. The objective of this study was to investigate whether loneliness and small social network size are associated with an increased mortality risk and to review the evidence for either network size, or loneliness that constitutes the higher mortality risk. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE and PsychInfo in January/February 2018 and March/April 2021.

The Association Between Loneliness and Psychiatric Symptomatology in Older Psychiatric Outpatients.

Purpose: Loneliness in adults increases with age. Although loneliness has been found to be associated with psychiatric disorders and dementia, no information is available on prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric patients. The aims of this study were to examine prevalence of loneliness in older psychiatric outpatients, including gender differences and associations with psychiatric disorders and social isolation.

Tolerability of lithium: A naturalistic discontinuation study in older inpatients (≥60 years).

Objectives: Lithium is one of the most effective treatment options in both bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant depression. The use of lithium in older patients declined during the last decades, probably resulting in undertreatment of older patients. To investigate how well lithium is tolerated in old age, we aimed to determine the frequency, reasons, and possible predictors of discontinuation due to adverse effects in a cohort of inpatients ≥60 years who had started with lithium.

Loneliness, social network size, and mortality in older adults and the role of cortisol.

Background: Loneliness and social isolation have both been found to be associated with increased mortality in previous studies. One potential underlying mechanism is via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between social network size and cortisol, to analyze the associations between both loneliness and social network size and mortality, and to examine to what extent the association between network size and/or loneliness and mortality is mediated by cortisol.

Loneliness and cardiovascular disease and the role of late-life depression.

Objective: Loneliness and depression have a strong reciprocal influence, and both predict adverse health outcomes at old age. Therefore, this study examines whether loneliness is associated with the presence of cardiovascular diseases taking into account the role of late-life depression.

Methods: Cross-sectional data of 477 older adults in the Netherlands Study of Depressed Older Persons were used.

Impact of loneliness and depression on mortality: results from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam.

Background: Loneliness is highly prevalent among older people, has serious health consequences and is an important predictor of mortality. Loneliness and depression may unfavourably interact with each other over time but data on this topic are scarce.

Aims: To determine whether loneliness is associated with excess mortality after 19 years of follow-up and whether the joint effect with depression confers further excess mortality.