Research report
Major and minor depression in later life: a study of prevalence and risk factors

https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(95)00061-5Get rights and content

Abstract

In this paper, the results of a community-based study into the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression in the older (55–85 years) population of The Netherlands are presented. The prevalence of major depression was 2.02%, that of minor depression 12.9%, while 14.9% had clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms. Associations with a comprehensive set of risk factors were not affected dramatically by age or sex. However, comparing major to minor depression, risks were substantially differently distributed. It appears that major depression is more often an exacerbation of a chronic mood disturbance, with roots in long-standing vulnerability factors; while minor depression is more often a reaction to the stresses commonly experienced in later life.

References (47)

  • M.F. Folstein et al.

    ‘Minimental state’. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician

    J. Psychiatr. Res.

    (1975)
  • B.J. Gurland

    The impact of depression on quality of life of the elderly

    Clin. Ger. Med.

    (1992)
  • A.T.F. Beekman et al.

    Depression in the elderly: a review of community based studies

    Tijdschr. Psychiatrie

    (1993)
  • A.T.F. Beekman et al.

    Screening for depression in the elderly in the community: using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) in The Netherlands

    Tijdschr. Gerontol. Geriatr.

    (1994)
  • A.T.F. Beekman et al.

    Criterion validity of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D): results from a community-based sample of older subjects in The Netherlands

    Psychol. Med.

    (1995)
  • L.F. Berkman et al.

    Depressive symptoms in relation to physical health and functioning in the elderly

    Am. J. Epidemiol.

    (1986)
  • R.C. Bland et al.

    Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the elderly in Edmonton

    Acta Psychiatr. Scand.

    (1988)
  • D.G. Blazer et al.

    Epidemiology of dysphoria and depression in an elderly population

    Am. J. Psychiatry

    (1980)
  • D.G. Blazer

    Depression in the elderly

    N. Engl. J. Med.

    (1989)
  • D.G. Blazer et al.

    The association of age and depression among the elderly: an epidemiologic exploration

    J. Gerontol.

    (1991)
  • D.G. Blazer

    Epidemiology of late-life depression

  • M.I. Broese van Groenou et al.

    Data collection

  • G.W. Brown et al.

    Social origins of depression: a study of psychiatric disorder in women

    (1978)
  • P.W. Burvill et al.

    Predictors of increased mortality in elderly depressed patients

    Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry

    (1994)
  • Central Bureau of Statistics

    Health Interview Questionaire

    (1989)
  • Central Bureau of Statistics
  • J.R.M. Copeland et al.

    Range of mental illness among the elderly in the community

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1987)
  • J.R.M. Copeland et al.

    Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, depression and pseudodementia: prevalence, incidence and three-year outcome in Liverpool

    Br. J. Psychiatry

    (1992)
  • D.J.H. Deeg et al.

    Autonomy and well-being in the aging population: concepts and design of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

  • W.W. Eaton et al.

    Rates of symptoms of depression in a national sample

    Am. J. Epid.

    (1981)
  • G.A. Foelker et al.

    Somatic complaints and the CES-D

    JAGS

    (1992)
  • R.R. Frerichs et al.

    Prevalence of depression in Los Angeles county

    Am. J. Epid.

    (1981)
  • R. Fuhrer et al.

    Depressive symptomatology a and cognitive functioning: an epidemiologica survey in an elderly community sample in France

    Psychol. Med.

    (1992)
  • Cited by (453)

    • Prevalence of depression in schizophrenia and related disorders

      2021, Cognitive and Behavioral Dysfunction in Schizophrenia
    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text