Along with the dementias and anxiety disorders, depression is the most common psychiatric disturbance in late life. The evidence of studies conducted so far is that depression is associated with declines in well being and levels of daily functioning and a higher risk of functional impairment, mortality and use of health services. Despite this long-standing interest, there is no consensus on basic issues, such as the influence that age and age-related developments may have on the prevalence of depression. Studies using a broader definition of clinically relevant depression have yielded much higher prevalence rates. The prevalence of minor depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale (CES-D). This is a 20-item self-report scale developed to measure depressive symptoms in the community. In the United States the prevalence of PPD ranges from 7 to 20%, but most studies suggest rates between 10 to 15%. Many psychosocial stressors may have an impact on the development of postpartum depression. The prevalence of depression appears to vary by the site of the cancer: 50% prevalence in pancreatic cancer, 22-40% prevalence in oropharyngeal cancers, 10-26% prevalence in breast cancer, 13-32% prevalence in colon cancer, 23-25% prevalence in gynaecologic cancers, 17% prevalence in lymphomas and 11% prevalence in gastric cancers. Major depression in the elderly is more often the exacerbation of a chronic mood disturbance, with roots in long-standing personal vulnerability; while minor depression is more often a reaction to the stresses encountered in later life. Depression is associated with certain disease conditions including diabetes mellitus, cancer etc and may also caused due to the adverse effect of certain drugs. The depressive symptoms can be cured by psychological treatment with drugs (eg; antidepressants) and patient counselling. Thereby counselling centres can be developed to prevent further risk of depressive disorder and it’s associated complications.
