Objective:To explore the differences of clinical characteristics and therapeutic drugs among three groups of inpatients with depression in Chongqing which were divided by age.Methods:We used a medical record schedule table to analyze 442 patients with major depression

including 37 adolescents

338 middle-aged adults and 67 elderly people

whom hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2006 to 2009

the SPSS13.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:The results showed that there were significant differences in age

level of education and marriage among three groups

but no significant differences were found in gender

personality and family history;the incidence of life stress in adolescent group was significantly higher than elderly group(χ2=5.63

P<0.05).The elderly group had more somatic illness than middle-aged group(χ2=20.17

P<0.01)

in which the middle-aged group was more than adolescent group.The incidence of anxiety in elderly group was significantly higher than the other two groups(χ2=12.43

P<0.01;χ2=15.23

P<0.01).No conspicuous differences were found among three groups in medical treatment.Conclusion:The inpatients with depression of different age-groups had remarkable differences in disease inducement

the proportion of somatic illness in inducements get higher as age increases.There are differences in clinical symptoms among different age-groups.Elderly patients have more incidences of anxiety comparing to adolescent group and elderly group.Different age-groups have no significant differences in antidepressants choice.