Many Seniors with Depression Faring Well During Pandemic
A new study finds that one very vulnerable population group appears to be holding its…

A new study finds that one very vulnerable population group appears to be holding its own during the COVID-19 pandemic. An assessment of seniors with a pre-existing major depressive disorder and living in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, or St. Louis finds that they are not becoming more depressed or anxious.
Research scientists from five institutions, including the University of California Los Angeles, participated in the study. They found that the older adults, who were already enrolled in ongoing studies of treatment resistant depression, also exhibited resilience to the stress of physical distancing and isolation.
The findings appear in peer-reviewed journal, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
“We thought they would be more vulnerable to the stress of COVID because they are, by CDC definition, the most vulnerable population,” said Helen Lavretsky, M.D., a professor-in-residence of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA.
Interestingly, seniors with depression appear to have better resiliency than many others because they have learned to live with their disorder.
Lavretsky said, “what we learned is that older adults with depression can be resilient. They told us that coping with chronic depression taught them to be resilient.”
For the study, researchers conducted interviews with the participants, all of whom were over the age of 60, with an average age of 69, during the first two months of the pandemic.
Using two screening assessments of depression and anxiety, PHQ-9 and PROMIS, researchers found no changes in the participants’ depression, anxiety or suicidality scores before and during the pandemic.
Researchers further determined that:
• participants were more concerned about the risk of contracting the virus than the risks of isolation;
• while all maintained physical distance, most did not feel socially isolated and were using virtual technology to connect with friends and family;
• while they were coping, many participants said their quality of life was lower, and they worry their mental health will suffer with continued physical distancing;
• participants were upset by the inadequate governmental response to the pandemic.
Based on the findings, the study authors wrote that policies and interventions to provide access to medical services and opportunities for social interaction are needed to help older adults maintain mental health and quality of life as the pandemic continues.
Lavretsky said many participants reported their quality of life to be lower, and they worried that their mental health will suffer with continued physical distancing. She said further research is needed to determine the impact of the pandemic over time.
She added that the findings offer takeaways for others while weathering the pandemic. “These older persons living with depression have been under stress for a longer time than many of the rest of us. We could draw upon their resilience and learn from it.”
The study identified several self-care and coping strategies used by the participants, which included maintaining regular schedules; distracting themselves from negative emotions with hobbies, chores, work or exercise; and using mindfulness to focus on immediate surroundings and needs without thinking beyond the present.
The authors further emphasized that access to mental health care and support groups, and continued social interaction are needed to help older adults whether the pandemic.
Source: UCLA