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Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Professor emerita

Ingalill Rahm Hallberg

Depressive symptomatology in severe dementia in a European sample: prevalence, associated factors and prescription rate of antidepressants.

Author

  • Clarissa M Giebel
  • Caroline Sutcliffe
  • Anna Renom-Guiteras
  • Seija Arve
  • Ingalill Rahm Hallberg
  • Maria Soto
  • Adelaida Zabalegui
  • Jan Hamers
  • Kai Saks
  • David Challis

Summary, in English

ABSTRACT Background: Depression is a common comorbid disorder of dementia. This study explores the prevalence of and factors associated with depressive symptomatology, and antidepressant prescription rates in severe dementia across eight European countries. Methods: In total, 414 people with severe dementia completed measures of cognition and quality of life (QoL), whilst carers completed proxy measures of activities of daily living (ADLs), depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, QoL and comorbidity. Results: Findings indicated that 30% of the sample had depression, whilst the highest and lowest prevalence of depression was reported in Germany and Finland, respectively. Lower QoL, the presence of pain and more frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms were associated with depressive symptomatology, whilst no significant relationship between impairment of ADLs, comorbidity, and depression emerged. Spain and Estonia had the highest and lowest rates of antidepressant prescribing, respectively, whilst Germany had the highest discrepancy between depressive symptomatology and prescription. Conclusions: The study highlights variations across countries in the prevalence of depressive symptomatology in severe dementia and prescription of antidepressants. Information about factors associated with depressive symptomatology may help to better identify and manage depression.

Department/s

  • Department of Health Sciences

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

657-667

Publication/Series

International Psychogeriatrics

Volume

27

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Topic

  • Nursing

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1741-203X