Anderson D N
Sir Douglas Crawford Unit, Mossley Hill Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Age Ageing. 2001 Jan;30(1):13-7. doi: 10.1093/ageing/30.1.13.
Depression affects 10-15% of people over 65 living at home in the United Kingdom. It is the commonest and the most reversible mental health problem in old age. Depression is associated with physical illness and disability, life events, social isolation and loneliness. Depression in old age carries an increased risk of suicide and natural mortality. Recognition and simple intervention can reduce morbidity, demand on health and social services and the cost of community care. Despite a favourable response to treatment, depression remains largely undetected and untreated.
