Depression risk for people who live alone

People of working age who live alone are significantly more likely to be depressed – scientists have found they are 80 per cent more likely to be taking antidepressants than those in a social or family group.

Researchers in Finland followed the progress of 3,500 working men and women for seven years while monitoring their antidepressant use.

The number of people living alone has doubled in three decades, reaching one in three in the UK. Lead scientist Dr Laura Pulkki-Raback said such studies usually underestimated risk as people most at risk tended to be least likely to complete the survey.