Depression and mortality in elders referred for geriatric psychiatry consultation.

Objective: The association between depressive symptoms and mortality was assessed in a 7-year longitudinal follow-up of subjects referred for geropsychiatric consultation.

Methods: The medical records of 89 referrals were reviewed. Survival analysis was performed on subjects stratified by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and residential status.

Results: Fifty percent of subjects with GDS > 6 (n = 28) died by 19 months versus 54 months for subjects with GDS < 7 (n = 61) (chi2 = 13.2, df = 1, P < .001). GDS, medical burden, age, and gender were independently associated with survival.

Conclusions: GDS scores greater than 6 are associated with increased risk of mortality in elders referred for geropsychiatric consultation.