EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION IN LATE-LIFE

The main subject of this survey is the discrepancy between the low pre valence of major depression in old age and the high prevalence of mino r depression and depressive symptoms, as well as the high incidence of late suicide. It is tentatively explained by the emergence of a new v ulnerability to depression, in which physical illness and brain dysfun ction gain in importance over genetic and/or personality factors.