TY - JOUR

T1 - Differential mortality rates in major and subthreshold depression

T2 - meta-analysis of studies that measured both

AU - Cuijpers, Pim

AU - Vogelzangs, Nicole

AU - Twisk, Jos

AU - Kleiboer, Annet

AU - Li, Juan

AU - Penninx, Brenda W.

PY - 2013/1

Y1 - 2013/1

N2 - BackgroundAlthough the association between depression and excess mortality has been well established, it is not clear whether this is greater in major depression than in subthreshold depression.AimsTo compare excess mortality in major depression with that in subthreshold depression.MethodWe searched bibliographic databases and included prospective studies in which both major and subthreshold depression were examined at baseline and mortality was measured at follow-up.ResultsA total of 22 studies were included. People with major depression had a somewhat increased chance of dying earlier than people with subthreshold depression but this difference was not significant, although there was a trend (relative risk 1.13, 95% CI 0.98–1.30, P = 0.1). The population attributable fraction was 7% for major depression and an additional 7% for subthreshold depression.ConclusionsAlthough excess mortality may be somewhat higher in major than in subthreshold depression, the difference is small and the overall impact on excess mortality is comparable.

AB - BackgroundAlthough the association between depression and excess mortality has been well established, it is not clear whether this is greater in major depression than in subthreshold depression.AimsTo compare excess mortality in major depression with that in subthreshold depression.MethodWe searched bibliographic databases and included prospective studies in which both major and subthreshold depression were examined at baseline and mortality was measured at follow-up.ResultsA total of 22 studies were included. People with major depression had a somewhat increased chance of dying earlier than people with subthreshold depression but this difference was not significant, although there was a trend (relative risk 1.13, 95% CI 0.98–1.30, P = 0.1). The population attributable fraction was 7% for major depression and an additional 7% for subthreshold depression.ConclusionsAlthough excess mortality may be somewhat higher in major than in subthreshold depression, the difference is small and the overall impact on excess mortality is comparable.

KW - Health sciences

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872165916&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.112169

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.112169

M3 - Scientific review articles

C2 - 23284149

VL - 202

SP - 22

EP - 27

JO - The British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - The British Journal of Psychiatry

SN - 0007-1250

IS - 1

ER -