Abstract
The evidence for an increased incidence of rates of depressive conditions, defined as depressed mood, depressive syndromes or depressive disorders, is reviewed. Findings from prospective studies, family genetic studies, community surveys, repeated Gross-sectional surveys, admission data and suicide statistics are summarized. Methodological problems and difficulties in the analysis and interpretation of these results are then summarized. Because converging results from studies conducted with various designs, sampling and measurement strategies are convergent, it is concluded that the increase over time of depressive phenomena is a plausible finding. However, its magnitude remains unknown and is probably smaller than sometimes claimed. Furthermore, studies have failed to demonstrate that the increase in rates was specific to depressive conditions. Finally, it is noted that these epidemiological enquiries have failed to provide cues on the possible mechanisms underlying these secular changes.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 145-156 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica |
| Volume | 90 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 1994 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Birth cohort
- Depression
- Epidemiology
- Secular trend
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Increased rates of depression : Update of epidemiological findings and analytical problems. / Fombonne, Eric.
In: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Vol. 90, No. 3, 1994, p. 145-156.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Increased rates of depression
T2 - Update of epidemiological findings and analytical problems
AU - Fombonne, Eric
PY - 1994
Y1 - 1994
N2 - The evidence for an increased incidence of rates of depressive conditions, defined as depressed mood, depressive syndromes or depressive disorders, is reviewed. Findings from prospective studies, family genetic studies, community surveys, repeated Gross-sectional surveys, admission data and suicide statistics are summarized. Methodological problems and difficulties in the analysis and interpretation of these results are then summarized. Because converging results from studies conducted with various designs, sampling and measurement strategies are convergent, it is concluded that the increase over time of depressive phenomena is a plausible finding. However, its magnitude remains unknown and is probably smaller than sometimes claimed. Furthermore, studies have failed to demonstrate that the increase in rates was specific to depressive conditions. Finally, it is noted that these epidemiological enquiries have failed to provide cues on the possible mechanisms underlying these secular changes.
AB - The evidence for an increased incidence of rates of depressive conditions, defined as depressed mood, depressive syndromes or depressive disorders, is reviewed. Findings from prospective studies, family genetic studies, community surveys, repeated Gross-sectional surveys, admission data and suicide statistics are summarized. Methodological problems and difficulties in the analysis and interpretation of these results are then summarized. Because converging results from studies conducted with various designs, sampling and measurement strategies are convergent, it is concluded that the increase over time of depressive phenomena is a plausible finding. However, its magnitude remains unknown and is probably smaller than sometimes claimed. Furthermore, studies have failed to demonstrate that the increase in rates was specific to depressive conditions. Finally, it is noted that these epidemiological enquiries have failed to provide cues on the possible mechanisms underlying these secular changes.
KW - Birth cohort
KW - Depression
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Secular trend
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027991595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0027991595&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 7810337
AN - SCOPUS:0027991595
VL - 90
SP - 145
EP - 156
JO - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
SN - 0001-690X
IS - 3
ER -