The prevalence of mental disorders in older people in Western countries – a meta-analysis

• Published in: Ageing research reviews Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 339 - 353
• Main Authors: Volkert, Jana, Schulz, Holger, Härter, Martin, Wlodarczyk, Olga, Andreas, Sylke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-01-2013
• Subjects: Aged - statistics & numerical data; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders - epidemiology; Mood Disorders - psychology; Neurology; North America - epidemiology; Prevalence; Psychotic Disorders - epidemiology; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Publication Bias; Reproducibility of Results; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; North America; Europe; Prevalence; Mental disorders; Epidemiology; Older people; Old age; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 1568-1637; 1872-9649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2012.09.004

Highlights ► This meta-analysis investigated prevalence rates of mental disorders in older people. ► The highest rates were found for dimensional (19.47%) and lifetime major depression (16.52%). ► The lowest rates were found for current (0.34%) and lifetime (0.19%) drug use disorders. ► The methodology to address challenges of older age needs to be improved. ► More studies, which aim to produce comparable data, are needed.