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Examining the factors associated with depression at the small area level in Ireland using spatial microsimulation techniques
Karyn Morrissey, Stephen Hynes, Graham Clarke, Cathal O’Donoghue. Irish Geography, 2014-04-13
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that, world-wide, depression will be the second largest source of burden of disease by 2020. It is currently estimated that approximately 300,000 Irish people experience depression. To date no research has been carried out on the small area incidence of depression in Ireland. Although research has looked at access levels to acute psychiatric hospitals for each electoral division (ED) in Ireland, there is currently no research on the accessibility of mental health services to individuals with depression. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature. First, a simple logistic regression model is used to identify the determinants of depression at the national level. Secondly, the spatial distribution of individuals with depression is estimated at the small area, ED level using a spatial microsimulation model. Finally, a spatial interaction model is used to analyse access to acute inpatient facilities at the national level and community-based facilities for individuals with depression at the sub-national level. The policy implications of these results are discussed in relation to both the health care literature and current Irish health care policy.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Morrissey, K., Hynes, S., Clarke, G., & O’Donoghue, C. (2014). Examining the factors associated with depression at the small area level in Ireland using spatial microsimulation techniques. Irish Geography. https://doi.org/10.55650/igj.2010.54
Vancouver
Morrissey K, Hynes S, Clarke G, O’Donoghue C. Examining the factors associated with depression at the small area level in Ireland using spatial microsimulation techniques. Irish Geography. 2014. doi:10.55650/igj.2010.54.
BibTeX
@article{morrissey2014-29549bf3,
author = {Morrissey, Karyn and Hynes, Stephen and Clarke, Graham and O’Donoghue, Cathal},
title = {{Examining the factors associated with depression at the small area level in Ireland using spatial microsimulation techniques}},
journal = {Irish Geography},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.55650/igj.2010.54},
url = {https://doi.org/10.55650/igj.2010.54}
}
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Key findings
- The policy implications of these results are discussed in relation to both the health care literature and current Irish health care policy.
Why it matters
This study is about depression and access to mental health services in Ireland, not Alzheimer's disease, so it does not provide information on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's. It used spatial microsimulation to estimate the distribution of depression at the small area level.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 24/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Irish Geography) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Irish Geography: journal h-index 36 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Cathal O’Donoghue: h-index 42 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Leeds: institution h-index 950 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 24 / 100 | — |
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