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Depression in Europe

Geographical distribution among older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

J. R. M. Copeland ,
A. T. F. Beekman ,
M. E. Dewey ,
C. Hooijer ,
A. Jordan ,
B. A. Lawlor ,
A. Lobo ,
H. Magnusson ,
A. H. Mann  and
I. Meller
...Show all authors
J. R. M. Copeland*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
A. T. F. Beekman
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
M. E. Dewey
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
C. Hooijer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universitat Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
B. A. Lawlor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of the Elderly, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
A. Lobo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain
H. Magnusson
Affiliation:
Heilsugaeslutod Grundarfjardar, Iceland
A. H. Mann
Affiliation:
Section of Epidemiology and General Practice and Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
I. Meller
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
M. J. Prince
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
F. Reischies
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Universität Klinkum Eschenallee 3, Berlin, Germany
C. Turrina
Affiliation:
Ospendale Civile, Breschia, Italy
M. W. Devries
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
K. C. M. Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
*
J. Copeland, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA
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Abstract

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.

Type
Eurodep Study
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 4 , April 1999 , pp. 312 - 321
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

Declaration of interest

The European Commission BIOMEDI initiative funded this Concerted Action Programme.

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