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Prevalence of and risk factors for minor and major depression among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2017

Chi-Shin Wu ,
Shu-Han Yu ,
Chun-Yi Lee ,
Han-Yun Tseng ,
Yen-Feng Chiu  and
Chao Agnes Hsiung
Chi-Shin Wu
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Shu-Han Yu
Affiliation:
Aesthetic-Mind Clinic, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
Chun-Yi Lee
Affiliation:
Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
Han-Yun Tseng
Affiliation:
Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
Yen-Feng Chiu*
Affiliation:
Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
Chao Agnes Hsiung
Affiliation:
Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Yen-Feng Chiu, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Kenyan Rd Zhunan, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan, ROC. Tel: +886-37-246166 ext. 36107. Email: yfchiu@nhri.org.tw.
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Abstract

Background:

This study was conducted to estimate prevalence rates and risk factors for late-life depression in a large nationwide representative sample from Taiwan.

Methods:

A total of 5,664, randomly sampled individuals aged ≥55 years were enrolled. Clinically, relevant depressive symptoms were classified using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D score ≥16), and major depression was confirmed using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Individuals with clinically relevant depressive symptoms, who did not meet the strict diagnostic criteria for major depression, were considered to have minor depression. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for major and minor depression, including socio-demographic characteristics, medical conditions, lifestyle behaviors, social support network, and life events.

Results:

The prevalence rates of minor and major depression were 3.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Major depression was associated with personal vulnerability factors, such as poor social support, cognitive impairment, comorbid pain conditions, and sleep disturbance. However, minor depression was more likely to be related to adverse life events, including increased burden on families, changes in health status, or relationship problem. Approximately, 20.0% of individuals with major depression received antidepressant treatment.

Conclusions:

Late-life depression was less prevalent among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan than among populations in other countries. Our findings may aid the early detection and treatment of late-life depression and provide a basis for future investigations.

Keywords

late-life depressiondepression symptomsmood module
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 7 , July 2017 , pp. 1113 - 1121
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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Footnotes

*

These two authors contribute equally to this work.

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