The aim was to investigate the pattern and rate of cognitive decline across distinctive trajectories of depressive symptoms in older adults. In this prospective multinational cohort study on 69,066 participants (on average 64 years at baseline, 55% women), assessments of cognitive functions (immediate recall, delayed recall, verbal fluency) and depressive symptoms (EURO-D scale) were conducted at 2-year intervals. The trajectories of depressive symptoms were obtained using latent growth mixture modelling, cognitive decline was assessed using smoothing splines and linear mixed effects models. Four distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified: constantly low (n = 49,660), constantly high (n = 2999), increasing (n = 6828) and decreasing (n = 9579). Individuals with increasing and constantly high depressive symptoms showed linear cognitive decline, while those with constantly low and decreasing depressive symptoms had fluctuating cognition. Participants with increasing depressive symptoms had the fastest decline, while those with decreasing symptoms were spared from decline in cognition. This study suggests that the pattern as well as the rate of cognitive decline co-occurs with specific patterns of changes in depressive symptoms over time. The most pronounced cognitive decline is present in individuals, in whom depressive symptoms increase late in life. Unique mechanisms of cognitive decline may exist for subgroups of the population, and are associated with the trajectory of depressive symptoms.

Objectives:To assess the extent of the treatment gap for mental disorders in the Czech Republic, determine factors associated with the utilization of mental health services and explore what influences willingness to seek mental health care.Methods:Data from the CZEch Mental health Study, a nationally representative study of community-dwelling adults in the Czech Republic were used. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview assessed the presence of mental disorders. 659 participants with current affective, anxiety, alcohol use and substance use disorders were studied.Results:The treatment gap for mental disorders ranged from 61% for affective to 93% for alcohol use disorders. Mental health service use was associated with greater disability (OR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.05; p < 0.001), female gender (OR 3.31; 95% CI 1.97–5.57; p < 0.001), urban residence (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.12–3.04; p < 0.05) and a higher number of somatic diseases (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.03–1.67; p < 0.05). Self-identification as having a mental illness was associated with greater willingness to seek a psychiatrist and a psychologist.Conclusions:The treatment gap for mental disorders is alarmingly high in the Czech Republic. Interventions to decrease it should target in particular rural areas, men and people with low self-identification as having a mental illness.

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