title: Review of community prevalence of depression in later life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite considerable interest, there is no consensus regarding the prevalence of depression in later life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of late-life depression in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of community-based studies of the prevalence of depression in later life (55+). Literature was analysed by level of caseness at which depression was defined and measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four studies eligible for inclusion were found. The reported prevalence rates vary enormously (0.4-35%). Arranged according to level of caseness, major depression is relatively rare among the elderly (weighted average prevalence 1.8%), minor depression is more common (weighted average prevalence 9.8%), while all depressive syndromes deemed clinically relevant yield an average prevalence of 13.5%. There is consistent evidence for higher prevalence rates for women and among older people living under adverse socio-economic circumstances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is common in later life. Methodological differences between studies preclude firm conclusions about cross-cultural and geographical variation. Improving the comparability of epidemiological research constitutes an important step forward.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Prince
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence