Increased Medical Costs of a Population-Based Sample of Depressed Elderly Patients

Abstract
MAJOR DEPRESSION, dysthymia, and minor depression have been found to have a high prevalence in elderly primary care patients. In this group, the prevalence of major depression has been estimated at 6.5% to 9%,1,2 dysthymia at 3% to 5%,2,3 and minor depression at 10% to 20%.4,5 Major and minor depression in older adults have been shown to be associated with increased unexplained physical symptoms such as headache and dizziness,6 increased functional impairment,7 and decreased quality of life.8