Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The epidemiology and natural history of depression in old age

  • Chapter
Antidepressants for Elderly People

Abstract

Depressive symptoms are very common in the elderly. There are, however, considerable methodological problems in estimating the prevalence of depressive symptoms in an elderly population and in deciding on the circumstances in which they may be said to constitute a full blown depressive illness. This chapter concentrates on British and North American studies and is intended to be representative rather than comprehensive. Available data on the age-related prevalence of depression is reviewed, with particular reference to the problems of diagnosis; the epidemiology of suicide and attempted suicide in old age; and the prognosis of, including the impact of treatment on, depression in the elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • American Psychiatric Association (1980) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) (3rd edn.), American Psychiatric Association, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Angst, J. (1981) Clinical indications for a prophylactic treatment of depression. Adv. Biol Psychiat., 7, 218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, R.C. and Jolley, D.J. (1986) Prognosis of depression in old age. Brit. J. Psychiat., 151, 129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barraclough, B.M. (1971) Suicide in the elderly. In: Recent Developments in Psychogeriatrics (eds. D.W.K. Kay and A. Walk), Headley Brothers, Ashford, pp. 87–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D. and Williams, C.D. (1980) Epidemiology of dysphoria and depression in an elderly population. Am. J. Psychiat., 137, 439.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blessed, G. and Wilson, I.D. (1982) The contemporary natural history of depression in old age. Brit. J. Psychiat., 141, 59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bulbena, A. and Berrios, G.E. (1986) Pseudodementia: facts and figures. Brit. J. Psychiat., 148, 87.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christie, A.B. (1982) Changing patterns in mental illness in the elderly. Brit. J. Psychiat., 140, 154.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciompi, L. (1969) Follow-up studies on the evolution of former neurotic and depressive states in old age. J. Geriat. Psychiat., 3, 90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, J.R.M., Dewey, M.E. and Griffiths-Jones, H.M. (1986) A computerised psychiatric diagnostic system and case nomenclature for elderly subjects: GMS and AGECAT. Psychol. Med., 16, 89.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, J.R.M., Gurland, B.J., Dewey, M.E. et al. (1987a) Is there more dementia, depression and neurosis in New York? Brit. J. Psychiat., 151, 466.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Copeland, J.R.M., Dewey, M.E., Wood, N. et al. (1987b) Range of mental illness amongst the elderly in the community: prevalence in Liverpool using AGECAT. Brit. J. Psychiat., 150, 815.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durkheim, E. (1951) Suicide: A Study in Sociology (Trans. J. Spaulding and G. Simpson), Free Press of Glencoe, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gianturco, D.T. and Busse, E.W. (1978) Psychiatric problems encountered during a long-term study of normal ageing volunteers. In: Studies in Geriatric Psychiatry (eds. A.D. Isaacs and F. Post), John Wiley, New York, pp. 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacoby, R.J., Levy, R. and Bird, J.M. (1981) Computed tomography and the outcome of affective disorder: a follow-up study of elderly patients. Brit. J. Psychiat., 139, 288.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katona, C.L.E. and Aldridge, C.R. (1985) The dexamethasone supression test and depressive signs in dementia. J. Aff. Dis., 8, 83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, D.W.K., Beamish, P. and Roth, M. (1964) Old age mental disorders in Newcastle-upon Tyne. Brit. J. Psychiat., 110, 146.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, D.W.K. and Bergmann, K. (1980) Epidemiology of mental disorders among the aged in the community. In: Handbook of Mental Health and Ageing (eds. J.E. Birren and R.B. Slone), Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, pp. 34–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, D.W.K., Henderson, A.S., Scott, R. et al. (1985) Dementia and depression among the elderly living in the Hobart community: the effect of the diagnostic criteria on the prevalence rates. Psychol. Med., 15, 771.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kral, V.A. (1983) The relationship between senile dementia (Alzheimer type) and depression. Can. J. Psychiat., 28, 304.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kreitman, N. (1976) Age and parasuicide (‘attempted suicide’). Psychol. Med., 6, 113.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, A.J.D. (1986a) Do General Practitioners ‘miss’ depression in elderly patients? Br. Med. J., 292, 1365.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, A.J.D. (1986b) The prevalence and recognition of depression in elderly patients attending their General Practitioners. M.D. Thesis, University of Glasgow.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, A.J.D and Dunn, G. (1982) Death and the expressed wish to die in the elderly: an outcome study. Age Ageing, 11, 189.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McClure, G.M.G. (1984) Trends in suicide rate for England and Wales 1975–80. Brit. J. Psychiat., 144, 119.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mann, A.H., Graham, R. and Ashby, D. (1984) Psychiatric illness in residential homes for the elderly: a survey in one London borough. Age Ageing, 13, 257.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, E. (1983) The prognosis of depression in old age. Brit. J. Psychiat., 142, 111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, E., Lindesay, J. and Grundy, E. (1986) 60 years of suicide in England and Wales. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 43, 969.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, G.E. and Wetzel, R.D. (1980) Suicide risk by birth cohort in the United States: 1949–1974. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 37, 519.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J.K., Weissman, M.M., Tischler, G.L. et al. (1984) Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 41, 959.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parkin, D. and Stengel, E. (1965) Incidence of suicidal attempts in an urban community. Br. Med. J., 2, 133.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Post, F. (1972) The management and nature of depressive illnesses in late life: a follow-through study. Br. J. Psychiat., 121, 393.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Post, F. and Shulman, K. (1985) New views on old age affective disorders. In: Recent Developments in Psychogeriatrics No. 1 (ed. T. Arie), Churchill Livingstone, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, E.F., Michals, T.J. and Steer, R.A. (1980) Prevalence and correlates of depression in elderly persons. Psychol. Rep., 47, 1055.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, M. (1955) The natural history of mental disorder in old age. J. Ment. Sci., 101, 281.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sainsbury, P. (1955) Suicide in London, Chapman and Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sainsbury, P. (1973) Suicide: opinions and facts. Proc. Royal Soc. Med., 66, 579.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, K. (1978) Suicide and parasuicide in old age: a review. Age Ageing, 7, 201.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stenback, A. (1980) Depression and suicidal behaviour in old age. In: Handbook of Mental Health and Ageing (eds. J.E. Birren and R.B. Slone), Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, pp. 616–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitlock, F.A. (1973) Suicide in England and Wales 1959–63, Part 1: the county boroughs. Psychol. Med., 3, 350.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Cornelius L. E. Katona
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wales College of Medicine, UK

    Karabi Ghose (Honorary Consultant in Geriatric Medicine) (Honorary Consultant in Geriatric Medicine)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Katona, C.L.E. (1989). The epidemiology and natural history of depression in old age. In: Ghose, K. (eds) Antidepressants for Elderly People. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3436-9_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3436-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-32460-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3436-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation