Centre for Policy on Ageing



Community-based case-control study of depression in older people. Cases and sub-cases from the MRC-ALPHA study
Author(s)	J R M Copeland, R Chen, M E Dewey
Journal title	British Journal of Psychiatry, vol 175, October 1999
Pages	pp 340-347
Keywords	Depression ; Evaluation ; Liverpool.
Annotation	Depression is the most common psychiatric condition found in older people, yet risk factors of depression in later life are unclear. This paper describes a case control study utilising the large, community-based MRC-ALPHA study. Over 5200 older people, randomly selected from Liverpool, were interviewed using the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) and the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The computer-assisted diagnosis AGECAT identified 483 cases and 575 sub-cases of depression and 2451 with no mental problems. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with depression. Being female, widowed, having alcohol problems, physical disabilities, physical illness, taking medications to calm down, and dissatisfaction with life were all associated with depression. Good social networks reduced the likelihood of depression. The study concluded that age was not associated with depression in later life. (AKM).
Accession Number	CPA-991021203 A
Classmark	ENR: 4C: 84B
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.