Depression: waiting for most

05 December 2005

Depression could affect half the population in the Western world during their lifetime, according to a paper co-authored by UNSW Professor of Psychiatry, Gavin Andrews.

The publication, in this month's British Journal of Psychiatry, brings together previous research and data on the disease. It indicates that the most vulnerable to depression are teenagers and the very old.

"These are the two groups in the population who are most likely to have their depression go unrecognised," said Professor Andrews.

Professor Andrews says that treatment with anti-depressants and cognitive-behavioural therapy amongst these groups is problematic because the young and old are on the one hand, often too sensitive to the side effects of the medication and on the other, can have difficulty using cognitive behavioural techniques.

The paper was the subject of editorial comment in the journal.

The other authors on the paper Lifetime risk of depression: restricted to a minority or waiting for most? were Richie Poulton from the University of Otago and Ingmar Skoog from the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden.