Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7360

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Publication type: Journal Article

Montagnier D, Barberger-Gateau P, Jacqmin-Gadda H, Dartigues JF, Rainfray M, Peres K, Lechevallier-Michel N, Fourrier-Reglat A.
Evolution of prevalence of depressive symptoms and antidepressant use between 1988 and 1999 in a large sample of older French people: results from the personnes agees quid study.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2006 Dec; 54:(12):1839-45
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17198488&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: To describe the evolution of prevalence of depressive symptoms and antidepressant use between 1988 and 1999 in a large representative sample of older community-dwelling French people. DESIGN: Prospective cohort designed in 1988/89 to study cerebral and functional aging.

SETTING: Urban and rural communities in southwestern France.

PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand six hundred thirty-seven adults aged 65 and older living in noninstitutional settings at baseline.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants were interviewed 3, 5, 8, and 10 years after the initial data collection. Depressive symptomatology was evaluated using a French version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Longitudinal analysis of the prevalence of depressive symptomatology was performed using a logistic mixed model adjusted for antidepressant use, sex, age, education level, living conditions, psychiatric antecedents, drug consumption, and diagnosis of dementia.

RESULTS: Over the 10 years of follow-up, the prevalence of depressive symptomatology decreased from 13.8% to 8.3%. This decrease was statistically significant even after adjustment (odds ratio=0.88 per increased year, 95% confidence interval=0.85-0.90) and was more pronounced in subjects having reported previous depression at baseline. During the same period, antidepressant use rose from 5.2% to 11.9%, mainly due to increased use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Furthermore, the proportion of subjects who had depressive symptoms and did not use antidepressants decreased from 11.8% to 6.2%.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests better management of late-life depression in the last decade and illustrates the heterogeneity of depression disorder in late life.