Influence Of Baseline Comorbid Diseases on Major Depression and The Effect of Intensive Medical Treatment on Functional Mobility in Depressed Patients Compared with Those Without Depression
Authors:   Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Movement Disorders Kreuzbergstr. 12-16, 77709 Wolfach, Germany
Published: July 2023

Objectives Somatic diseases, depression and functional mobility were examined in a follow-up study in geriatric patients. The first aim of the study was to assess the independent and moderator effects of baseline diseases on depression before adjustment by examining whether this influence will sustain or switch after adjustment. The second aim was to explore the differential treatment outcomes in functional mobility in depressed patients versus those with no depression. Methods A sample of n = 1,816 multimorbid patients consisting of n = 902 with a diagnosis of major depression and their counterparts n = 914 without depression were examined at two time points. They all underwent acute rehabilitation. Those who were diagnosed with major depression received an antidepressant and psychotherapy treatment. Depressive symptoms were recorded with the Geriatric Depression Scale. Functional mobility was measured using the Tinetti Test. Results We found that 431 patients (47%) were in partial remission at follow-up. The results yield a significant improvement in functional mobility in both groups as an effect of the intensive rehabilitation program. These findings support published findings highlighting an overall functional health enhancement owing to a combined medical rehabilitation, antidepressant and psychotherapeutic treatment as a result of early intensive rehabilitation for elderly patients with multiple medical conditions. The findings show that elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions benefit from intensive rehabilitation, psychotherapy and antidepressant treatment within three weeks of intensive stationary treatment. Results showed that baseline comorbid diseases (mainly focal neurologic deficits and coronary artery diseases) each act as risk factors for major depression before treatment. An intercept effect was unveiled between obesity and arterial hypertension that arises as risk factors for depression before adjustment. After adjustment, we found that baseline chronic conditions, specifically coronary artery disease, focal neurologic deficits, heart or valvular insufficiency, artificial valvular or pace maker and tumour diagnosis in respiratory organ each act as a potential risk factor for depression occurrence. The intercept effect erased after treatment. Functional health was increased significantly in both groups at follow-up. However, there was no difference in the increase of functional mobility (Tinetti Test) in non-depressed and depressed patients following the rehabilitation. Conclusion The results bolster up the conjecture that specific somatic diseases influence major depression before and after treatment and support an association between somatic diseases, depression, and functional health in elderly patients. In depressed and non-depressed patients, geriatric rehabilitation boosts functional mobility, which is crucial for the maintenance of autonomy in elderly patients. Major depression may hamper functional mobility rehabilitation’s outcome only if not well managed or overlooked.