European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 28, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Depression has changed from a disease Olp eople in their 40s and 50s and older to a disease of people in their 20s end 30s." Robert Hirschield National Institute of mental health. Baby Boomers bummed out by Malcolm hitter associated press the baby Boom generation learn Mlo relative affluence peace and he ally. In  in i a a talc Blue but depressed Del s rna of depression a disorder Hal lasts a least two weeks and includes such symptoms As Appel Ilo or sleep disturbance feelings of  or inappropriate Guill 01 thoughts of deals studies indicate that clinical depression 15 rutting Al Carlisi Ages in baby Boomers than the preceding Genei Alion. And the rate of depression is up. Female baby Boomers Tor example have a 65 percent greater Chance than Normal of being depressed at some Ime in their lives and the suicide rate among 15 tg-24-year Olds in 1980 was nearly three times that of the age group in 1350 depression has changed from a disease of people in their 40s, 50s and older to a disease of people in their ?0s and 30s." said Pobor Hirs Tifeld. Chiel of the Page 16 the stars and stripes affective and Vanwely disorders Branch of the National Institute of menial health. So How come you re so miserable psychiatry professor Gerald Klerman asked a recent 33-year-old visitor to his office at the new York Hospital Cornell medical Center nobody really knows Why. By Hirsch Lold and Klerman suspect major changes in the social environment that occurred since world War ii and the stress of High expectations clashing with economic reality baby Boomer Are not formally Der cd but Klerman applies the term to the 76 2 million babies born from 1947 to 1965. No ranging from about 23 to 41 years old they make up about a third of the United Stales population births during the 16-year Boom were 50 percent higher than the previous 16 years and 16 percent above the Loli owing 16 years Klerman believes the 510 cd the baby Boom generation has contributed to higher depression rates tiling a theory by economist Richard Easterlin of the University of tuesday Juno 28,1963 Southern California. The theory holds that because of Supply and demand a Largo age group will face lower wages higher unemployment and less upward mobility on the Job than smaller age groups baby to omits entered Hal situation with High material expectations because they grew up in relatively prosperous times despite the economic a Virden of the big generation Easterlin said. Ihry still aspire to material wealth by staying single or forming families with working Mol his and Lew if any children. Since one of the Lito goals Hal continually ranks the highest among Young people is a Good marriage and family what s created there is a real Strain Easterly said. They re sacrificing Iho family Side of their existence in order to maintain the material Side. And the result is a kit of psychological  similarly. Hirshiel believes unfulfilled expectations help to raise depression Rales. His generation he s 45 was raised to believe that the world was our Oyster. It s turned out to be nol the Case at Al other factors May play a role too. The period after world War ii brought major changes in the social environment thai continue to this Day said Hirs Weld new social Rales Lor women and As a result for men and Iho Rise of single Parent families have Upsel the kinds of things that we  the Posl War trends May also help explain an increase m depression rates seen in pre baby Boomers born in 1935-1944, said Myrna Weissman. An author of a five comr Nunnly study thai found increases continuing in baby Boom males. The pre baby Boomers Lime of birth would Pul them Al risk Lor depression right alter world War 11, the Lime of the social disruptions said Wissman of the College of physicians and sur jeans of Columbia University in new York. Weissman who is Klorman s Wile did Iho study while Al the Yacc University school of Medicine with other colleagues. Other researchers suggest different interpretations of the baby Boomer depression data and stress the studios Are limited. Baby Boomers grew up in a very psychological climate. Where they Are More attuned to looking within themselves and May to More prone than those born in less psychologically oriented limes to react to Dilfia Cultis by becoming depressed said sociologist Allan Hof Wil of Rutgers University. Those born earlier May have just Gollen physically sick instead he said. It does seem Polty dear that Rales of depression Are indeed higher among this baby Boom  Horwitz said adding Hal More analysis is needed to uncover the causes current studies Are limited because they depend on people s recall of past depression said Bice Dohron wind. A i Olessor in the psychiatry department and school of Public health Al Columbia presbyterian medical Center Here older people must go Back further to Mccail episodes of depression a i a Given ago than younger people so they might remember ewer episodes. A better study design would be to find groups of people born Al Diller enl times then follow them for years and record their depression episodes As they occur Dohrenwend said but that is very expensive and difficult he added Weissman said a 25-Yoar study using that strategy in Iceland also Lound higher depression rates among baby Boomers. And some  Ami ties have corroborated a person s recall with reports from relatives she said. Despite the i millions of current studies Dohrenwend called Iho i scarch suggestive and fascinating and quite important. I think it True for How one interprets die causes of  what of future generations welshman s study found thai depression Rales stabilized or decreased in the most recent group studied those born in 1955-1964. But she cautions. I m not a Prophet " Klerman said researchers will keep a close Eye on Post baby Boomers to follow up Early indications that their Rales of suicide drug use and depression Are lower than the baby Boomer rates As Lor baby Boomers. Klerman said thai As they enter choir 40s and 50s 1hoir earnings Wilt Peak and in will be easier to meet choir expectations about what life should be hang in there he said time is on your Side "