background Risk factors for depression and anxiety in the elderly partly overlap. This could mean that preventive measures targeting common risk profiles would have larger (combined) effects. However, a number of preventive measures may have differential efficacy in depression and anxiety.

goal To present an analysis of the potential yield of interventions targeting combined risk factors.

method Secondary analysis of data from the Amsterdam Study of the Elderly. 2244 community living persons were assessed for a comprehensive set of risk factors at baseline, and for the onset of depression and generalised anxiety disorder (gad) at three year follow-up.

results Risk factors for depression and gad largely overlap, increasing the potential yield of preventive interventions. Some risk factors, such as loss events, may however be specifically related to depression, and threatening current circumstances may be more strongly associated with anxiety. These results are discussed in light of current known efficacy of preventive interventions for depression and/or anxiety.

conclusion Preventive models should ideally target common risk factors using simple measures, but in some cases specific interventions for singular disorders may both be more cost-effective and logistically manageable.