Health Service Utilization and Costs of Depression in Late Life – A Systematic Review

Objective: The objective of the study is to systematically analyze and summarize research literature regarding health service use and costs of depression in late life. Design: Relevant articles were identified by systematically searching the databases MEDLINE, Web of Science, PSYNDEXplus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. Keywords were ‘depression’ or ‘depressive*’, and ‘cost’ or ‘economic burden’ or ‘utilization’ or ‘use’ and ‘old age’ or ‘elderly’. Studies based on representative samples of elderly individuals aged 55 years and older were included. Results: 55 studies were found, 34 studies determined health ser…