| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
Major depression in the elderly
— a population study in Helsinki | | Author(s) | Jaakko Valvanne, Kati Juva, Timo Erkinjuntti |
| Journal title | International Psychogeriatrics, vol 8, no 3, Fall 1996 |
| Pages | pp 437-443 |
| Keywords | Depression ; Diagnosis ; Cross sectional surveys ; Finland. |
| Annotation | The aim of this Finnish study was to estimate the prevalence of major depression and to evaluate associated features in random age cohorts of 75, 80, and 85 years (n=651). A clinical examination was made by experienced health centre physicians, and major depression was diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria. Prevalence increased with age and was 1% to 4% in the 75 and 80 years age groups, but 13% at the age of 85. No sex difference was found. The frequency of major depression was fourfold among institutionalised patients (16%) as compared to those living at home. Major depression was strongly associated with objective health, intellectual functioning, and functional capacity. Depression was most common in subjects suffering from poor vision, urinary incontinence, or Parkinson's disease (odds ratios 4.2 to 4.9). Depression was also correlated with musculoskeletal disorders, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular diseases (odds ratios 2.5 to 3.4). The survey suggests that major depression is quite rare in healthy older people but common in institutionalised patients. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980303271 A |
| Classmark | ENR: LK7: 3KB: 76L |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|