According to DSM-IV criteria, 73 (13.5%) of the 539 patients (95% CI=10.8%–16.7%) were diagnosed with major
depression. According to all available evidence, 52 (71%)
of these 73 patients were classified as having their first episode of depression, although the accuracy of reported
past history could not be determined and may be underestimated, as in other studies in late life (48). Patients with
reported new-onset depression were similar to those who
had a previous episode on sociodemographic characteristics, medical comorbidity, and functional ability, but they
were more likely to score below 24 on the MMSE (14 [27%]
of 51 patients for whom MMSE data were available compared with one [5%] of 21) (Fisher’s exact test, p=0.05). In
most cases (N=57 [N=78%]), the episode of depression had
lasted at least 2 months (mean=13.3 months, SD=15.3,
range=