Study Highlights Importance of Detecting Childhood Abuse in Older Adults with Depression

A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry suggests smaller social networks and feelings of isolation may be key risk factors for late-life depression in older adults with a history of childhood abuse along with an earlier onset of depression, reports News-Medical . "Apart from the presence of childhood abuse, also the age at depression onset is important to consider in older adults and might give some clues as to which factors are important in treatment," says Ilse Wielaard with the VU University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The results of the study emphasize the importance of spotting the presence of childhood abuse in adults with depression and possibly incorporating this into therapy.