title: Depression in Europe. Geographical distribution among older people.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This is the first report of results from the EURODEP Programme.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of depression judged suitable for intervention in randomised samples of those aged > or = 65 in nine European centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  The GMS-AGECAT package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in prevalence are apparent, 8.8% (Iceland) to 236% (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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hooijer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meller
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reischies
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turrina
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: deVries
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution