Prevalence of depression in older people in England and Wales: the MRC CFA study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence of depression in older people in England and Wales: the MRC CFA study

AU - Mcdougall, F A

AU - Kvaal, K

AU - Matthews, F E

AU - Paykel, E

AU - Jones, P B

AU - Dewey, M E

AU - Brayne, C

PY - 2007/12

Y1 - 2007/12

N2 - Background. Depression in old age is an important public health problem. The aims of this study were to report the prevalence of depression in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS), a community-based, cohort. Method. Following screening of 13 004 people aged 65 and over from a population base, a stratified random subsample of 2640 participants received the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) examination and were diagnosed using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer-Assisted Taxonomy (AGECAT) algorithm. Results. The prevalence of depression was 8.7 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 7.3-10.2], increasing to 9.7 % if subjects with concurrent dementia were included. Depression was more common in women (10.4 %) than men (6.5 %) and was associated with functional disability, co-morbid medical disorder, and social deprivation. Prevalence remained high into old age, but after adjustment for other associated factors, it was lower in the older age groups. Conclusions. The prevalence of depression in the elderly is high and remains high into old age, perhaps due to increased functional disability

AB - Background. Depression in old age is an important public health problem. The aims of this study were to report the prevalence of depression in the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS), a community-based, cohort. Method. Following screening of 13 004 people aged 65 and over from a population base, a stratified random subsample of 2640 participants received the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) examination and were diagnosed using the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer-Assisted Taxonomy (AGECAT) algorithm. Results. The prevalence of depression was 8.7 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 7.3-10.2], increasing to 9.7 % if subjects with concurrent dementia were included. Depression was more common in women (10.4 %) than men (6.5 %) and was associated with functional disability, co-morbid medical disorder, and social deprivation. Prevalence remained high into old age, but after adjustment for other associated factors, it was lower in the older age groups. Conclusions. The prevalence of depression in the elderly is high and remains high into old age, perhaps due to increased functional disability

U2 - 10.1017/S0033291707000372

DO - 10.1017/S0033291707000372

M3 - Article

SN - 1469-8978

VL - 37

SP - 1787

EP - 1795

JO - Psychological Medicine

JF - Psychological Medicine

IS - 12

ER -