Influence of lonely living on onset and course of depressive disorders in mental patients at late age

With the purpose to define the character and mechanisms of influence of lonely living on the onset and course of depressive disorders in patients of late age with mental illness two groups of patients over 60 with depressive disorders were examined with clinical and socio-psychological techniques. 37 patients, living alone, constituted the main group; 31 patients living within a family, constituted the control one. The groups didn't differ according to their clinical-demographic composition. The study was conducted in two stages. During the first one - the main group was examined; during the second - the comparative analysis of medico-social indexes of both groups was conducted. All patients, except I, had poor influence of lonely living. Two mechanisms of negative influence were revealed. The first one was revealed through the condition of loneliness that appeared in 2 aspects: trigger factor of the disease onset and additional psychogenic moment contributing to the attack frequency and prolongation. The second one included medico-social factors associated with lonely living.