Prediction of first episode of clinical depression in patients newly admitted to a medical long‐term care facility: Findings from a prospective study

A cohort of 104 patients newly admitted to a medical long‐term care facility was studied over 1 year for evolution of depression. Seven variables that were associated with level of depression were used in discriminant function analyses. Results showed that the variables had about 90% accuracy in predicting depressed versus non‐depressed groups with good sensitivity and specificity. The variables measured: coping with admission; life satisfaction at admission; affective and non‐affective symptoms at admission; clinical health status after admission; friends in hospital after admission; and changes in affective symptoms after admission before the onset of depression.