Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T10:56:47.116Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cross-cultural comparison of depressive symptoms in Europe does not support stereotypes of ageing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

J. R. M. Copeland ,
A. T. F. Beekman ,
M. E. Dewey ,
A. Jordan ,
B. A. Lawlor ,
M. Linden ,
A. Lobo ,
H. Magnusson ,
A. H. Mann  and
M. Fichter
...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
A. Jordan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
B. A. Lawlor
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry of the Elderly, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
M. Linden
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Universität Klinikum Eschenallee 3, Berlin, Germany
A. Lobo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain
H. Magnusson
Affiliation:
Iceland
A. H. Mann
Affiliation:
Section of Epidemiology and General Practice and Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London
M. Fichter
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
M. J. Prince
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
P. Saz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Zaragoza, Spain
C. Turrina
Affiliation:
Breschia, Italy
K. C. M. Wilson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
*
J. R. M. Copetand, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Stereotypes of older people suggest that they are depressed.

Aims

To examine depression symptoms among people aged ⩾65 in the general population and to ask the following questions. Are there high proportions of depressive symptoms among otherwise well people? Do these levels reflect the prevalence of depression? Do key symptoms vary with age and do they confirm stereotypes?

Method

Nine centres contributed data from community-based random samples, using standardised methods (GMS–AGECAT package)

Results

Proportions of depressive symptoms varied between centres. Some often associated with ageing were rare. Many were more common in women. Low-prevalence centres tended to have fewer symptoms among ‘well’ people, but there were inconsistencies. Low levels of symptoms among the well population of a centre did not necessarily predict lower levels in the depressed.

Conclusions

Variations in the prevalence of depressive symptoms occurred between centres, not always related to levels of illness. There was no consistent relationship between proportions of symptoms in well persons and cases for all centres. Few symptoms were present in > 60% of the older population – stereotypes of old age were not upheld.

Type
Eurodep Study
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 174 , Issue 4 , April 1999 , pp. 322 - 329
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Declaration of interest

The European Commission BIOMEDI initiative funded this Concerted Action Programme.

References

Banerjee, S., Shamash, K., Macdonald, A. J. D., et al (1994) Randomised controlled trial of effect of intervention by psychogeriatric team on depression in frail elderly people at home. British Medical Journal, 313, 1058–1061.Google Scholar
Beekman, A. T. F., Deeg, D. J. H., Smith, H. H., et al (1995) Predicting the course of depression in the older population: results from a community-based study in the Netherlands. Journal of Affective Disorders, 34, 41–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Copeland, J. R. M., Dewey, M. E. & Griffiths-Jones, H. M. (1986) Computerised psychiatric diagnostic system and case nomenclature for elderly subjects: GMS and AGECAT. Psychological Medicine, 16, 89–99.Google Scholar
Copeland, J. R. M., Davidson, I. A., Dewey, M. E., et al (1992) Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, depression and pseudodementia: prevalence, incidence and three-year outcome in Liverpool. British Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 230–239.Google Scholar
Copeland, J. R. M., Beekman, A. T. F., Dewey, M. E., et al (1999) Depression in Europe. Geographical distribution among older people. British Journal of Psychiatry, 174, 312–321.Google Scholar
Dewey, M. E., De La Camara, C., Copeland, J. R. M., et al (1993) Cross-cultural comparison of depression and depressive symptoms in older people. Acta Psychiatrica Scanenovica, 87, 369–373.Google Scholar
Kivela, S.-L., Kongas-Saviaro, P., Kesti, E., et al (1994) Five year prognosis for depression in old age. International Psychogeriatrics, 6, 69–78.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magnusson, H. (1989) Mental health of octogenarians in Iceland. An epidemiological study. Acta Psychiatrica Scanenovica, 79 (suppl.), 349.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.