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Cited by 318Mental Health Treatment and AccessAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

A 40-Year Perspective on the Prevalence of Depression: The Stirling County Study

Murphy, Jane M., Laird, Nan M., Monson, Richard R., Sobol, Arthur M., Leighton, Alexander H.·2000·Archives of General Psychiatry
DOI 10.1001/archpsyc.57.3.209
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: According to epidemiologic studies that use recall of lifetime episodes, the prevalence of depression is increasing. This report from the Stirling County Study compares rates of current depression among representative samples of adults from a population in Atlantic Canada. METHODS: Sample sizes were 1003, 1201, and 1396 in 1952, 1970, and 1992, respectively. The depression component of the study's method, the DPAX (DP for depression and AX for anxiety), was employed. The original procedure (DPAX-1) was applied in all years. A revision (DPAX-2) was used in 1970 and 1992. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was also used in 1992. RESULTS: With the DPAX-1, the overall prevalence of current depression was steady at 5% over the 2 early samples but declined in 1992 because of vernacular changes referring to dysphoria. The DPAX-2 gave a stable overall prevalence of 5% in the 2 recent samples, but indicated that women and younger people were at greater risk in 1992 than in 1970. The DIS, like the DPAX-2, found a current 1992 rate of 5% for major depressive episodes combined with dysthymia. Recalled lifetime rates using the DIS showed the same profile interpreted in other studies as suggesting an increase in depression over time. CONCLUSIONS: Three samples over a 40-year period showed a stable current prevalence of depression using the DPAX methods that was comparable in 1992 with the current rates using the DIS. This casts doubt on the interpretation that depression is generally increasing. Within the overall steady rate observed in this study, historical change was a matter of redistribution by sex and age, with a higher rate among younger women being of recent origin.

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Authors
Murphy, J. M., Laird, N. M., Monson, R. R., Sobol, A. M., & Leighton, A. H.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2000-03-01
Volume
57
Issue
3
Pages
209
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archpsyc.57.3.209
OpenAlex
W2124480078
Cited by
318
References
55
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 15
FWCI
28.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH039576, MH39576)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
depression prevalence, Diagnostic Interview Schedule, sex differences in depression, age differences in depression, dysphoria, Atlantic Canada
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Canada, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Prevalence

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