Background We aimed to determine the prevalence and gap in use of mental health services for late-life depression in four European regions (Western Europe, Scandinavia, Southern Europe and Central and Eastern Europe) and explore socio-demographic, social and health-related factors associated with it. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study based on data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Participants were a population-based sample of 28 796 persons (53% women, mean age 74 years old) residing in Europe. Mental health service use was estimated using information about the diagnosis or treatment for depression. Results The prevalence of late-life depression was 29% in the whole sample and was highest in Southern Europe (35%), followed by Central and Eastern Europe (32%), Western Europe (26%) and lowest in Scandinavia (17%). Factors that had the strongest association with depression were total number of chronic diseases, pain, limitations in instrumental activities of daily living, grip strength and cognitive impairment. The gap in mental health service use was 79%. Conclusions We suggest that interventions to decrease the burden of late-life depression should be targeted at individuals that are affected by chronic somatic comorbidities and are limited in mental and physical functioning. Promotion of help-seeking of older adults, de-stigmatization of mental illness and education of general practitioners could help decrease the gap in mental health service utilization.

3rd Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

3rd Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic; National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic

Department of Old Age Psychiatry Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience King's College London UK

National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic

National Institute of Mental Health Klecany Czech Republic; Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Citace poskytuje Crossref.org

Educational attainment and anxiety in middle-aged and older Europeans

Depression in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: results from Czech arm of HEROES Study

Socioeconomic deprivation in early life and symptoms of depression and anxiety in young adulthood: mediating role of hippocampal connectivity

Variation in depressive symptom trajectories in a large sample of couples

Changes in national rates of psychiatric beds and incarceration in Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia from 1990-2019: A retrospective database analysis

Educational inequalities in mental disorders in the Czech Republic: data from CZEch Mental health Study (CZEMS)

Trajectories of depressive symptoms and associated patterns of cognitive decline

Educational attainment inequalities in depressive symptoms in more than 100,000 individuals in Europe

Education as inefficient resource against depressive symptoms in the Czech Republic: cross-sectional analysis of the HAPIEE study

Use of antidepressant medications among older adults in European long-term care facilities: a cross-sectional analysis from the SHELTER study

Hospitalizations and Mortality of Individuals with Dementia: Evidence from Czech National Registers