Depression in Europe. Geographical distribution among older people

• Published in: British Journal of Psychiatry
• Main Authors: Copeland, J. R.M., Beekman, A. T.F., Dewey, M. E., Hooijer, C., Jordan, A., Lawlor, B. A., Lobo, A., Magnusson, H., Mann, A. H., Meller, I., Prince, M. J., Reischies, F., Turrina, C., Devries, M. W., Wilson, K. C.M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 1999
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://research.vumc.nl/en/publications/f2dc8e79-eb76-42b8-9139-a7fa04cfaaa3; https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.174.4.312; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032932688&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Background. This is the first report of results from the EURODEP Programme. Aims. To assess the prevalence of depression judged suitable for intervention in randomised samples of those aged ≥ 65 in nine European centres. Method. The GMS-AGECAT package. Results. Differences in prevalence are apparent, 8.8% (Iceland) to 23.6% (Munich). When sub-cases and cases are added together, five high- and four low-scoring centres emerge. Women predominated over men. Proportions of sub-cases to cases revealed striking differences but did not explain prevalence. There was no constant association between prevalence and age. A meta-analysis (n=13 808) gave an overall prevalence of 12.3%, 14.1% for women and 8.6% for men. Conclusions. Considerable variation occurs in the levels of depression across Europe, the cause for which is not immediately obvious. Case and sub-case levels taken together show greater variability, suggesting that it is not a matter of case/sub-case selection criteria, which were standardised by computer. Substantial levels of depression are shown but 62-82% of persons had no depressive level. Opportunities for treatment exist.