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Family criticism and depressive symptoms in older adult primary care patients: optimism and pessimism as moderators.

ABSTRACT: Depression is a significant global public health burden, and older adults may be particularly vulnerable to its effects. Among other risk factors, interpersonal conflicts, such as perceived criticism from family members, can increase risk for depressive symptoms in this population. We examined family criticism as a predictor of depressive symptoms and the potential moderating effect of optimism and pessimism.One hundred five older adult, primary care patients completed self-report measures of family criticism, optimism and pessimism, and symptoms of depression. We hypothesized that optimism and pessimism would moderate the relationship between family criticism and depressive symptoms.In support of our hypothesis, those with greater optimism and less pessimism reported fewer depressive symptoms associated with family criticism.Therapeutic enhancement of optimism and amelioration of pessimism may buffer against depression in patients experiencing familial criticism.

SUBMITTER: Hirsch JK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3840145 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Family criticism and depressive symptoms in older adult primary care patients: optimism and pessimism as moderators.

Hirsch Jameson K JK Walker Kristin L KL Wilkinson Ross B RB Lyness Jeffrey M JM

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 20130730 6

<h4>Objective</h4>Depression is a significant global public health burden, and older adults may be particularly vulnerable to its effects. Among other risk factors, interpersonal conflicts, such as perceived criticism from family members, can increase risk for depressive symptoms in this population. We examined family criticism as a predictor of depressive symptoms and the potential moderating effect of optimism and pessimism.<h4>Methods</h4>One hundred five older adult, primary care patients co ...[more]

PMID: 23907069

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Project description:BackgroundIn patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction (MI), n-3 (omega-3) PUFA status is low, whereas the risk of depression is increased.ObjectiveThe objective was to assess whether the plant-derived α-linolenic acid (ALA) and the fish fatty acids EPA and DHA would improve affective states.DesignIn a secondary analysis of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Alpha Omega Trial, 4116 of 4837 (85.1%) patients (aged 60-80 y; 79.2% men) who had experienced an MI were included. Margarine spreads were used to deliver 400 mg EPA-DHA/d, 2 g ALA/d, both EPA-DHA and ALA, or a placebo for 40 mo. At 40 mo, the endpoints of depressive symptoms (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale) and dispositional optimism (a 4-item questionnaire and the Life Orientation Test-Revised) were analyzed by using a posttest-only design.ResultsThe 4 randomly assigned groups did not differ in baseline characteristics. ALA supplementation significantly increased plasma cholesteryl ester concentrations of ALA by 69%, and EPA-DHA supplementation increased plasma cholesteryl ester concentrations of EPA and DHA by 61% and 30%, respectively. Depressive symptoms or dispositional optimism did not differ between groups with the use of n-3 fatty acids compared with placebo at the 40-mo follow-up. The standardized mean (±SE) differences in depressive symptoms were as follows: for EPA-DHA plus ALA (n = 1009) compared with placebo (n = 1030), -0.025 ± 0.044 (P = 0.57); for EPA-DHA (n = 1007) compared with placebo, -0.048 ± 0.044 (P = 0.28); and for ALA (n = 1022) compared with placebo, -0.047 ± 0.044 (P = 0.29).ConclusionsIn patients who had experienced an MI, low-dose EPA-DHA supplementation, ALA supplementation, or a combination of both did not affect depressive symptoms and dispositional optimism. These findings are in accord with those from previous trials in individuals without psychopathology or without severe depressive symptoms. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00127452.

Dataset Information

Family criticism and depressive symptoms in older adult primary care patients: optimism and pessimism as moderators.

Publications

Family criticism and depressive symptoms in older adult primary care patients: optimism and pessimism as moderators.

Similar Datasets

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