Abstract

Expected Outcomes

This study will provide more clarity on factors predicting transition from late-life depression, and in particular severe/psychotic depression, to dementia. The identified predictors will provide valuable potential targets for intervention. This project will result in publication in peer reviewed journals and presentation at old age psychiatry conferences, but also wider guidance on management of late-life depression for patients, carers, clinicians, and policy makers.

Aims

This project aims to investigate factors that might contribute to the development of dementia in patients presenting with late-life depression. Specific objectives are to investigate depression severity, and which demographic factors, co-prescribed medications (as different antidepressant types), co-morbid conditions, and function and symptom clusters are predictive of dementia development.Data for this study will be obtained via the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) application, providing anonymised access to electronic health records. CRIS contains records on over 270,000 patients, 17,000 with dementia and 6,500 with late-life depression. Following a retrospective cohort study design, diagnosis of late-life depression will define the cohort. Development of dementia and models of cognitive decline will serve as outcomes, which will be studied in relation to an unprecedented range of predictors.