Lancet
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Multicenter Study
Epidemiology of major depressive disorder in elderly Nigerians in the Ibadan Study of Ageing: a community-based survey.
The growing populations of elderly people in sub-Saharan Africa are exposed to social changes with potential adverse effects on mental health. Our aim was to estimate the occurrence and effect of major depressive disorder in a large and representative community sample of elderly Africans. ⋯ Major depressive disorder is common in elderly Nigerians and its occurrence is related to urbanisation. This disorder is a seriously disabling illness in this group but only a few sufferers have ever received treatment. Health-care services need to invest in effective treatment programmes for major depressive disorder.