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Incidence of melancholic depression by age of onset and gender in the Lundby population, 1947–1997

Nöbbelin, Linnéa LU ; Bogren, Mats LU ; Mattisson, Cecilia LU and Brådvik, Louise LU (2023) In European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 273(5). p.1163-1173
Abstract

Whether melancholic depression is a distinct syndrome or not has long been debated. There are few studies providing information about the epidemiology of melancholic depression. In this study, we investigate the incidence rates, overall as well as by gender and age of onset of melancholic depression according to Taylor and Fink and corresponding DSM–IV disorders: major depressive disorder (MDD) with melancholic specifier, MDD with psychotic features, MDD with postpartum debut and bipolar depression in the Lundby population. Incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The incidence rate of melancholic depression was 0.48 (CI 0.36–0.61) per 1000 person-years under risk. The rates of the corresponding DSM-IV disorders... (More)

Whether melancholic depression is a distinct syndrome or not has long been debated. There are few studies providing information about the epidemiology of melancholic depression. In this study, we investigate the incidence rates, overall as well as by gender and age of onset of melancholic depression according to Taylor and Fink and corresponding DSM–IV disorders: major depressive disorder (MDD) with melancholic specifier, MDD with psychotic features, MDD with postpartum debut and bipolar depression in the Lundby population. Incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The incidence rate of melancholic depression was 0.48 (CI 0.36–0.61) per 1000 person-years under risk. The rates of the corresponding DSM-IV disorders were as follows: MDD with melancholic specifier 0.38 (CI 0.27–0.49), MDD with psychotic features 0.13 (CI 0.07–0.21), MDD with postpartum debut 0.02 (CI 0.00–0.06) and bipolar depression 0.04 (CI 0.01–0.10). Females had a significantly higher incidence rate, with a peak in age group 40–49, in melancholic depression according to Taylor and Fink and MDD with melancholic specifier. There was no gender difference in incidence rates of MDD with psychotic features or bipolar depression. The diagnoses were set in retrospect and the number of subjects with MDD with postpartum debut and bipolar depression was low. Incidence of melancholia was low in the Lundby Study. There was a female preponderance to become melancholically depressed in line with research on undifferentiated depression.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Depression, Epidemiology, Incidence, Melancholia, Psychotic depression
in
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
volume
273
issue
5
pages
1163 - 1173
publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
external identifiers
  • pmid:36334129
  • scopus:85141387915
ISSN
0940-1334
DOI
10.1007/s00406-022-01506-5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b457f5a8-75a6-4d26-8335-34ab695faffa
date added to LUP
2022-12-21 08:45:33
date last changed
2025-05-03 06:20:16
@article{b457f5a8-75a6-4d26-8335-34ab695faffa,
  abstract     = {{<p>Whether melancholic depression is a distinct syndrome or not has long been debated. There are few studies providing information about the epidemiology of melancholic depression. In this study, we investigate the incidence rates, overall as well as by gender and age of onset of melancholic depression according to Taylor and Fink and corresponding DSM–IV disorders: major depressive disorder (MDD) with melancholic specifier, MDD with psychotic features, MDD with postpartum debut and bipolar depression in the Lundby population. Incidence rates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The incidence rate of melancholic depression was 0.48 (CI 0.36–0.61) per 1000 person-years under risk. The rates of the corresponding DSM-IV disorders were as follows: MDD with melancholic specifier 0.38 (CI 0.27–0.49), MDD with psychotic features 0.13 (CI 0.07–0.21), MDD with postpartum debut 0.02 (CI 0.00–0.06) and bipolar depression 0.04 (CI 0.01–0.10). Females had a significantly higher incidence rate, with a peak in age group 40–49, in melancholic depression according to Taylor and Fink and MDD with melancholic specifier. There was no gender difference in incidence rates of MDD with psychotic features or bipolar depression. The diagnoses were set in retrospect and the number of subjects with MDD with postpartum debut and bipolar depression was low. Incidence of melancholia was low in the Lundby Study. There was a female preponderance to become melancholically depressed in line with research on undifferentiated depression.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nöbbelin, Linnéa and Bogren, Mats and Mattisson, Cecilia and Brådvik, Louise}},
  issn         = {{0940-1334}},
  keywords     = {{Depression; Epidemiology; Incidence; Melancholia; Psychotic depression}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1163--1173}},
  publisher    = {{D. Steinkopff-Verlag}},
  series       = {{European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience}},
  title        = {{Incidence of melancholic depression by age of onset and gender in the Lundby population, 1947–1997}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00406-022-01506-5}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00406-022-01506-5}},
  volume       = {{273}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}