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Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research article

Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode

Authors: Evelyn Bromet, Laura Helena Andrade, Irving Hwang, Nancy A Sampson, Jordi Alonso, Giovanni de Girolamo, Ron de Graaf, Koen Demyttenaere, Chiyi Hu, Noboru Iwata, Aimee N Karam, Jagdish Kaur, Stanislav Kostyuchenko, Jean-Pierre Lépine, Daphna Levinson, Herbert Matschinger, Maria Elena Medina Mora, Mark Oakley Browne, Jose Posada-Villa, Maria Carmen Viana, David R Williams, Ronald C Kessler

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2011

Abstract

Background

Major depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, yet epidemiologic data are not available for many countries, particularly low- to middle-income countries. In this paper, we present data on the prevalence, impairment and demographic correlates of depression from 18 high and low- to middle-income countries in the World Mental Health Survey Initiative.

Methods

Major depressive episodes (MDE) as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DMS-IV) were evaluated in face-to-face interviews using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Data from 18 countries were analyzed in this report (n = 89,037). All countries surveyed representative, population-based samples of adults.

Results

The average lifetime and 12-month prevalence estimates of DSM-IV MDE were 14.6% and 5.5% in the ten high-income and 11.1% and 5.9% in the eight low- to middle-income countries. The average age of onset ascertained retrospectively was 25.7 in the high-income and 24.0 in low- to middle-income countries. Functional impairment was associated with recency of MDE. The female: male ratio was about 2:1. In high-income countries, younger age was associated with higher 12-month prevalence; by contrast, in several low- to middle-income countries, older age was associated with greater likelihood of MDE. The strongest demographic correlate in high-income countries was being separated from a partner, and in low- to middle-income countries, was being divorced or widowed.

Conclusions

MDE is a significant public-health concern across all regions of the world and is strongly linked to social conditions. Future research is needed to investigate the combination of demographic risk factors that are most strongly associated with MDE in the specific countries included in the WMH.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/9/90/prepub

Title: Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode
Authors: Evelyn Bromet
Laura Helena Andrade
Irving Hwang
Nancy A Sampson
Jordi Alonso
Giovanni de Girolamo
Ron de Graaf
Koen Demyttenaere
Chiyi Hu
Noboru Iwata
Aimee N Karam
Jagdish Kaur
Stanislav Kostyuchenko
Jean-Pierre Lépine
Daphna Levinson
Herbert Matschinger
Maria Elena Medina Mora
Mark Oakley Browne
Jose Posada-Villa
Maria Carmen Viana
David R Williams
Ronald C Kessler
Publication date: 01-12-2011
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-9-90

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Cross-national epidemiology of DSM-IV major depressive episode

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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